stockholm discovery of the day ~ brunkebergstunneln

Being an arrant Stockholmer I take proud in reasonably well knowing my way around this city. Now and then though, I'm completely dumbstruck over the places I had absolutely no idea existed. And even more so when these places apparently been around for a 100 plus years.

Today was such a day of discovery. Apparently there's a pedestrian tunnel passage way through the Brunkebergsåsen esker, Brunkebergstunneln. The fact that it begins/ends on Tunnelgatan - Tunnel street, the street known for being the place where prime minister Olof Palme was murdered in 1986. Murder still remains inconceivably unsolved... - should of course have been an obvious giveaway... Still I've passed there innumerous times over the years not seeing, not knowing.

Now I've been enlightened. Now I know. Now I've walked through it. Very convenient (and rather shabby. Would definitely not walk there alone on awkward hours). Inaugurated in 1886. Discovered by me in 2011.

creativity spurt of the day

I've decided (definitely without the New Year's resolution thing) to try and finish some little project every day. However minor step for wom-mankind, a small everyday victory for me. It would be lovely if it could be something creative involving yarn, fabric, photography, text but I fear that may be too much. Possibly.

My little outburst of creativity (the all done and finished part) today was to finally assemble that long planned triptych of the original (photos in question more visible --->) cat-dog-sweetness from almost a year ago. Quite pleased with result.

Prunella and Malte, sometimes friends, sometimes herding, although always she adores him.

I'm thinking another good achievement of a day would be to go through a substantial portion of feed reader, old comments, reply, leave comments myself in places where one rarely do, maybe never done. That would also be nice, like comments left/replied always are. Much appreciated. Thank you, if you have yet to see me popping by leaving a comment, returning a kind comment, I want you to know I'm on it. It's just that I have an almost year of backlog concerning such, but I'm slowly working my way through it, sure am. Discovering *new* lovely places along the way. That certainly could be considered a creative spurt of the day.

the terracotta army

The week before Christmas - on one of those rare winter-days with sun which made the freezing, wintry streets of Stockholm look absolutely enchanting - we finally made our way to this round of the Terracotta Army exhibition. Last time it was on display in Stockholm was in 1984. I remembered we queued for hours on a bitterly cold winter day back then, me and a friend. The weather much like now, but no queueing this time (and I would not have been that patient now). For some reason I seem to recall it was worth the wait and the money then, that it was indeed an impressive exhibition.

This time I was utterly disappointed. About 10 clay soldiers in glass boxes, a few small horses and some smaller sculptures. Not at all what I had expected – had I read more about the exhibition beforehand I would probably had realized it would be far from the world heritage grandeur I had thought of. So silly me for that – and for quite a hefty entrance fee (~22 usd).

And as impressive as the work and craftsmanship itself is, it also oozes monumental madness, tragedy, waste and sadness. Only humans use and abuse others to create something as ridiculous and crazy. All that went through my mind while we strolled the exhibition, me trying to get some reasonable photos in bad light while feeling it was rather a waste of time and money...

There’s a replica exhibition at the China center (not without its controversy) center called Dragon Gate some few hours drive north of Stockholm, where the display seems to be much more of impressive-clay-army-like. Which quite possible would make one even more sad than these few clay fellas did, thinking of all the madness and waste with human history repeating itself in different ways still...

What made me most happy that day (apart from the glorious winter weather) was the finding of my two kitsch generals. Hadn't I gone to the exhibition I'd never have found them. They are most amusing. Kind of silent. But sort of dashing. Perky and colourful. All hearts and mild manners. Non bellicose. Tad golden. Keeping a watchful eye over matters. Ideal.

blue hot dog

Admittedly I'm no fan of all the silicone kitchen utensils and cookware available these days, apart from the material feeling more than slightly nasty in its rubber like (unnatural) nature I'm so far not very impressed by its features.

Bought a few cake moulds and minor wares some years ago, very not in-like with results, thus never been interested again in these products. So when M thought this blue silicone dog kettle holder was a given gift I was quite... ungrateful one might say, uninterested I'd say. Highly sceptical of its supposedly heat-resistance. So I barked a lot at first.

But when I reluctantly tried it one day it turned out it actually do work reasonably well. And if it wasn't made of that nasty rubbery material I would very much enjoy the nifty dog design, yes I would. Not that it by any means measure up to one real life loaf dog extraordinaire of course. But in the world of silicone and blue dogs I think it's kind of hot. In a heat resistant kettle holder kind of way.

socks, generals and gnomes

Some days fabulous socks, perky generals and ingenious gnomes may be everything a gal needs. Just sayin'.

More about the generals and the socks later. For now, feast your eyes on kitsch fest.

red lampshade has a pink jacket

For about as long as since I moved to my own place (give or take for a mind-boggling 20 years...) I've been meaning to dress lampshade cords and the odd flowerpot - odd indeed they are, since the flowers and plants who have the misfortune to be brought into this house have a sadly minuscule life-span - in linen jackets, skirts, shirts, pouches or whatever it is you call it when you dress and cover small household items like that.

Back then I also bought a stash of linen fabrics in different colours. Some of them got used for other purposes, some have been lying around waiting. Faintly calling for me to use them for the original purchase purpose.

Another thing has also been lurking in the back of my mind for some time, one of those seemingly small sprucing matters that can make quite a difference; the changing of my grannyish-glass-brass-kitchen-lampshade (which has also been with me for that mind-boggling amount of time) into something more... clean and sleek. Well, as sleek as anything in my utter love for colours, messy, collection of this and that dear one have picked up over the years home can be...

So when I stumbled over this sheet lampshade at a Christmas fair/second hand shop open warehouse some weeks before Christmas I grabbed it. For the pleasing sum of 20 sek (~3 usd). And red, oh it would look mighty fine with my red buffet and all.

Bought a simple cord and inset, unearthed the linen fabric stash, was delighted when I found the pale pink one I had my mental mind eye set upon (I've also played with the idea of turning that piece into a simple linen skirt, there might still be enough fabric left to do that too). Did a bit of measuring, cut, ripped, sewed, skewed and hey presto, new kitchen lamp just the way I wanted.

Red sleek lampshade with a wrinkled, disheveled dress. It looks quirky, perky and cute (with a kind of giddy appearance of having danced the night away and laughed a lot) in exactly the way I want it. Very pleased am I. For a more than affordable sum of money.

The fact that I managed to stumble over the shade, get a new cord, dig out fabric AND finish project in less than a month is something I am extremely pleased about too. See, I'm not always procrastinating. Another thing that has happened in my crafty kitchen. Another thing in lovely red. Another good thing to start of the new year alright. Right.

snacks for little people

Carrot sticks snacks for "småfolk" (little people) aka young children. Carrots, no junk added, with someone looking suspiciously like me and has pink hair on the bag, well o-f--c-o-u-r-s-e M had to bring carrot-defect-me one for sampling.

The bag only contains a measly 15 grams of airy, dried sticks and although it was a nice enough taste experience it's quite the silliness to sell bags of this me thinks. Containing carrots or not. Something similar for snacking shouldn't be that hard to make yourself...

at the hairdressers

About every 8-10 weeks I desperately need to go to the hairdresser. As much as I've always loved being a brunette, when the grey begin to show they REALLY show. And while they may look fantastic, eccentric and beautiful on other 30+ they have never on me. I only look worn, drab, sad and old(er).

Thus, the reason for me being a regular hairdresser customer is not the cutting per se but the colouring. As unfortunate as that really is, I can't embrace my grey hairs. I really can't. (And I more than suspect they're not all hereditary, my father began greying in his 20ies, but also stress-related when they first appeared.)

I began going to *my* hairdresser some 8 years ago, by recommendation from a then co-worker of mine. We hit it off and I've been faithful ever since. She has many great features, apart from being a fine hairdresser and giving a fabtastic head massage, so it's a real treat every time me and my grey shafts need to head there (oh pun).

A bit of TLC for hair and scalp, a good chat, coffee, nibble and some magazines (never gossip, always fashion or travel) - just what one needs on a reasonably regular basis.

And if you'd like to see some fab shoes (my hairdresser most always wear such on her feet), you really must head over to today's shoe per diem post. It's very red. Shoetastically so.

miss december

In 2009 I was Miss August, in 2010 I was spoilt with being both Miss January, Miss July and Cover Girl. This year the photos I had entered with to the municipal environmental calendar competition were of a better quality (if I may say so). They showed the varying landscape, architecture and nature of the municipality and I did feel they were really spot on for some of the months. Even if one can never anticipate the competition or take anything for granted (which I never do), but one can have hopes.

So when I got the calendar the other week I was struck by four things;

:: the quality of the chosen photos this year was higher (I adore the October picture with frozen apples on the ground)
:: 7 photos of 13 show water
:: 9 photos of 13 show motifs that could be taken anywhere and can not be specifically identified as taken within this municipality
:: the picture I won a month with this year is really not one of my proudest. It was simply the best one I could find for the month of December (you're allowed to send in 12 photos max and I try to find a decent one for each month so not to compete with myself.). And it's of my neighbourhood. Actually my street. Even a part of my house. Only reason for taking the picture was that it would be nice to see how it looked here amidst all snow in December 2009. Little did one know that December of 2010 would be even snowier...

But at least I won a month. Which is nice. Even if I would have thought it would have been February or May who made it to the calendar. But yes, nice.

What made it even nicer though was the discovery of what this year's prize was. One I'm really, really, really happy about. Spot on. When I opened the box and discovered four candles and the label "Design House Stockholm" I so hoped it would be that candlestick I'd been coveting but which definitely wasn't on any top-to-get-list in a house full of candlesticks and candle holders...

And it was! Hooray!! It's a wooden candle holder which is really versatile and can be folded together or open up in 4 (or 7) arms. Available in black, grey, red or white. Designed by Jonas Grundell and befittingly called Nordic Light. I would have loved to have one in red of course, but when I thought about it I felt black (of which I'm no fan, ya' know) would go better anytime of the year whilst a red candle holder is pretty Christmassy. So pleased am I indeed.

Though minus for the fact that label on bottom says "made in Thailand", since a piece in wood and steel, designed in Sweden, local production would of course be the obvious and decent thing from an eco point of view...

crafty kitchen thoughts

When Christmas was over I was quick in turning kitchen table into an artsy crafty mini studio. I totally have a good sized room for a craft studio, but I have big big plans for turning it into a more inspiring room and at the moment it's more of a storage room. With plans. It's also a very very cold room this time of the year, with energy saving being a must I really can't put the heat on in there and besides it's much more cosy, though tad inconvenient with all the little paw helpers roaming, being in middle of chaos, close to kettle, fridge, music and company.

What I have most loved about these couple of weeks free of musts and engagements is that I have actually finished some projects and ideas semi-finished for a long time. I am about to finish some more of them. I have also both begun and completed other yarn projects (with varied result satisfaction, but still, from start to finish in a most reasonable timespan). And I'm very much looking forward to start working on some new ones.

Also, perky green Evert and red star angel bowl Angel have become the nuttiest of friends.

Many a loose (yarn) end have been tied. And teacups drunk.

It's really been the best kind of loafing in this house (and now I'm not talking about the loafie in a Christmas cap). I am also planning for projects to bring to the next Twitter-junta. How I hope this have been a good re-charging of batteries for the initial weeks, months in this new year to come. A year when good changes will come, need to come.