how to make a star

Making the little starts that you could see on our Advent decoration has been a bit of therapy for me over the years since December often meant many deadlines and exams in the past when I was a student. So here is a short guide on how to make them:
You will need 4 equally long strips of paper or I sometimes use gift ribbon (just don't use the thinnest kind if it is your first time as it can be a bit tricky).




Fold the strips over themselves so they look as the first picture.





Then turn it around and do the same on the opposite side.





Then it will look like this:


Folk back one of the strips and bend the previous in under the one you lifted.


It will come out through one of the tips on the side, pull it out carefully so that a tip is created.



Repeat...



Eventually it will look like this:



Then do the same on the other side:


Then cut off all the snippets sticking out, and you have a little start



It was quite hard to take pictures whilst making the star but I hope you will figure it out. GOOD LUCK! :)

airport humour

On my last flights to and from Oslo I realised that the security is much heavier in the UK than in Oslo. In the UK I had to take my boots off when going through security, and when entering the gate there were dogs smelling all my bags whilst 3 guys with AK47s were shouting to us to look straigth and keep walking. A bit intimidating actually...



Cartoons from New Yorker

first light now lit

It's fun to know that everything except the candles were found outside or are homemade (the little stars). We are eating the last couple of lussekatter and having our first cup of julmust! YUM

Första Advent

Goodness I've been crafty today, found so many nice things outside, and our kitchen has been a mess the last 4 hours, but now I've finally tidied up and now Andreas is in there "cooking" (making vegetarian burgers that is). Just thought I would share some pictures...




I have taken the idea with some apples in a nice glass bowl from UndebaraClara.



An easy way to make your existing plants a bit more christmasy is to just decorate them.

and out we go...

Pictures from the Real Flower Company.

Christmas Music on Spotify

I'm working on a play list on Spotify with Christmas music, and I've come to realise that it is hard to find a good list that doesn't just result in 15 different versions(artists of each song. Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Joy to the World, Silent night, The Christmas song, and White Christmas are the most frequent songs on my list at the moment. Any great songs you would like to share? I very much welcome suggestions to avoid getting tired of these songs before the month is over.

If you want to listen here is the link to my Spotify list.

PS For those who wouldn't mind listening to some Swedish and English Christmas music you can tune into Swedish Radios (SR) two Christmas channels: Bjällerklang and Klassisk Jul.

Christmas decorating has begun

 

 

 

Today I've started some of the Christmas decorating here. A lot left though. Tomorrow I'll be hunting for moss, pine cones, and other little gifts of nature to make our house a home. I love this time of the year!

pictures from Norway

I had a great week in Oslo. Got to meet a few old friends, my sister and grandmother, my sales rep for the first time, and of course a bunch of clients.
It was lovely to be in real winter weather with snow and cold that wasn't wet (if that makes any sense).


Grandmother preparing food in the kitchen - yummy home cooked meal.


I love the plates they have, with pretty flowers and golden edges.


Look how cute my father was as a baby (he is the one on the left)


The town is covered in snow. It is so peaceful and quite when it snows.


We gave our grandparents an early Christmas present a framed photo from our wedding. Grandma was so happy when she got it :)