First project finalized!

My first school project is now finished! It has been a great start, -fun, interesting and educational. We have been working in groups of three to four students, and I couldn’t be more satisfied with my group! We have worked very well together, and I believe all four of us feel equal ownership to the "finished product”. The process has been very inspiring and I believe we will, if we get the chance, work together on other projects later on as well.

The assignment was to make wallpaper to a chosen interior in a chosen space, either private or public. As this was the first assignment, we chose to focus on getting to know each other, and take inspiration from the “getting to know each other” process. We started by drawing a fun drawing of a person – where one draw the head, another one the body, the third the upper legs and finally I drew the legs and feet, all done without looking at what the last person had drawn. We are still discussing whether it is a man or a woman…

Our wallpaper is a decoration for one wall in a big public space – we are thinking about an airport or another place where people from all over the world come together. It is meant to be an inspiration to connect and communicate with other people, and should be combined with a round table. The round shape of the table will further facilitate and encourage connection between strangers. I must say we are very pleased with and proud of the result!

It might be a bit difficult to see from the pictures above, but the three is put together of the continents of the world as the foliage – filled with the faces of the people of the world. The wood is made of words, proverbs and quotations about peace, freedom, happiness, cooperation and coexistence. The thought is that the world is the people and we are held togheter through the thoughts and feelings that both similar and different at the same time. What do you think?!

Vintage market

Today we have been checking out a vintage market in Galleri Festiviteten  in Eidsvoll. It is the first year they arrange this market, and I believe it can be a nice place in the future. There is a lot of potential even if today's market was not the best. There were not very many stalls and some of them were a bit overpriced. I managed to get me a couple of pearls anyway, so I am rather satisfied with the trip. –And a road trip with my girls is not a bad thing either! Thanks for the trip L&K! 

Look what I found! Even on my top 10 list!

And isn't this clock just beautiful?!

The after noon has been dedicated to reinventing my wardrobe. L gave me a very good lesson in how to mix and match what is already in my closet, and we found some really neat outfits in there! Really looking forward to getting dressed for school in the morning! Maybe I’ll post some examples later on. –But then again, I am not a big fan being photographed, so I will not guarantee anything…

...and action!

First and second day of my Master of Art & Design is over! Great days by the way, with their feeling of happiness, expectancy, anxiety and confusion, combined with a lot of information, new names and new faces. All the glory that goes with starting up with something new! The teachers seem great and it feels like a good mix of different people with different knowledge and experiences that I trust will make sure the studies will be both fun and challenging.

Today we where lucky enough to be invited to Oslo Fashion Week to watch the five winners of the competition called Springbrett showed their collections.

For me it felt like a giant kick-off for the studies, as I really love to see how young new designers get rewarded for hard work and great design. Three of the five is Oslo University College students (present or past). I will follow all five and wish them all the best. Well done! –And thanks for great inspiration!

Check this cool shop!

Found a great shop today! Kitch shop has got a great deal of cool/nice/fun stuff. I believe I have to order something from them shortly. Found a suggestion for schoolbag

could this be the one?!

and lunchbox as well

Betty Boop <3

even a few items that would really "kick ass" in my kitchen

would give new life to me drinking longdrinks..

hahahahaha

I finally have found time for Windows shopping! 

South African wire art

Some friends of mine lived in Africa a couple of years ago. Back home they brought a lot of nice things of course, but I fell hard for her wire art tree with many nice ornaments to hang on the branches. Some of the things they make is maybe a bit gaudy, but look at these nice owls!

I found some nice ones at House of Oslo, but would really like to buy them myself in South Africa...

Mission completed!

Today my mother’s bedroom was finished. –Except from the cupboard doors, they do not look good. I do not understand. I have really done my best to get the paint evenly distributed, but it is still running. I am very close to wanting to blame the paint. Anyway, want my mum to have a look at the color before I do anything more about it. If she wants to change the hue I would like it done before I add another cote.

I have had some time for my drawing today as well. It is slowly but surly getting more colors and details.

One week untill...

…I am a full time student! I am really looking forward! Currently I’m making time pass by helping my mother redecorate her bedroom. Today I have worked with the new oak parquet on the floor. Pretty fun work actually - even all by my self! Very proud of own work today!

I am very happy about the new vending in the case regarding the power line in Hardanger by the way. It is about nature and beauty, and about saving some untouched nature for our descendants. Nature is really the final inspiration for everything, isn’t it?

Stine Rommetveit

Today I have been visiting the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, The museum of Decorative Art and Design here in Oslo. It was a really nice exhibition of Norwegian furniture design showing 100 seating items together with the permanent exhibitions; Style  1100-1905 and Design and Craft from 1905-2005. Unfortunately it was very bad air in there, so I was not able to enjoy as much as I could have. Think I need to go back there another day (maybe with not so nice and warm weather outside..).

The items that made the biggest impression on me today was two bowls made by Stine Rommetveit, a contemporary Norwegian artist with a lot of nice pottery. I really like her use of colors and simple design. My favorite item on her blog is this one, quite like the two in the museum.

Happy birthday to me!

It is my birthday today! -So I am taking a day off writing. Just wanted to let you know I got some beautiful dessert bowls from my son (picked them out myself from Freetex, a thrift store - all for NOK 60)

And I finally have ordered a sewing machine – a gift from my mum! Thanks mum! I love you! Here is a picture of it as well.

from www.symaskiner.no where I bought it

Top 10 Must-haves

1. The blanket and

2. the lamp from the Vintage and Retro, yes please! post!

3. Fantastic pens! Don’t quite know where to put it, but must have it!

www.designista.se

4. Doorstoppers! Like these maybe? Currently using a blanket and a wool-slipper…

www.urban-trend.no

5. An USB-stick – if I need to carry some files between home and school! This is a happy one! 

www.designmuseumshop.com

6.  Lunchbox – I’m a full time student as from the 17^th. How about one of these from Blafre Design?

7. A school bag. Was wandering about buying a Moods of Norway Moods of Norway bag like this, but I haven’t decided yet. Any suggestions?

8. A radio for my study. Check out these fabulous Retro radios from Technology Factory! I cannot decide whether the plain or the wave pattern one would fit best in my apartment. Trust I could find a place for them both if needed…

9. Clogs, no special reason. These would be perfect!

www.riceandbeansvintage.com

10. Something with Cathrine Holm’s fabulous lotus pattern! Isn’t it just great? Simplicity rules! I found the picture through a very nice blog by the way – check it out; MyBlackBook!

catrineholm collage found on Flikr by MyBlackBook

Vintage and Retro, yes please!

I love vintage and retro items! Used clothing, interior articles and furniture are cheaper, more unique and also often higher quality products than new ones. The environmental factor adds an even better feeling when shopping vintage and retro articles.

So – what is vintage and what is retro? I believe there are as many definitions on this as there are people trying to define it. I went for the current Wikipedia definition, stating that items from before 1920s is referred to as antiques, 1920s to 1980 is considered vintage and that retro is products imitating a style of a previous era. In my opinion, items from the 1980s and even early -90s has the vintage feeling, and falls into that category.

On my wishing list for today I would add a crocheted blanket – something like this (preferably used):

And I have been looking for a lamp like this one for quite a while now:

My birthday is coming up the day after tomorrow. I believe my blog will be a good place to get some ideas for what I like. To bad I didn’t start this blog earlier, but maybe for Christmas and next years birthday?

My way?

Blogging is an interesting thing. I am really trying to do this “the right way”, -but I am still not sure how that is. And I am honestly not sure that I even care. I want to do this my way, but still, I would not like to step on anybody’s feet or do anything illegal. Funnily I find it difficult to find out how to do it “the right way”,  I think I will just follow my heart and my common sense and trust that will be sufficient. Maybe that is why I cannot find the information I seek? Because I am supposed to do it my way?

I found this blog recently, and there is a lot that I like about it. The author has an edge to her writing, and there are a lot of pictures from different sources, as magazines, shops and own work. I could really relate to the gardening and the Happy Can story! I liked the design on this one better though:

from http://www.nybgshop.org

And these! I love them!

also from http://www.nybgshop.org