monday morning old town walk

I was in Stockholm for two days, attending meetings, fruitful and inspiring. This is the first part of the early morning Old Town walk. Stockholm is a beautiful city, a town for walking.

Top photo is the City Hall, where in this very moment the Nobel Prize winners have their dinner, followed by the Parlament building and the Royal Castle (where the royalties doesn't live these days).

Rhonda Hill other landscapes
Other buildings

time to celebrate

I'm so glad! Sketch competition for two artists (like a sketch battle): final result was in my favor. This is what I didn't want to show until the decision was made. The wall stands in the entrance to the Lidköping hospital which is being renovated next spring.

My sketch is based on, absolutely not scientifically true at all, life forms that might be seen in a microscope if they ever existed. It will be a mix of my own ceramic shapes and mosaic areas. I'm so looking forward to doing this!

Most of all I'm celebrating all the precious time I won. Relieved by two phone calls; one telling the other commission I'm working on doesn't need to be finished until after New Year. The other telling this new doesn't need to be finished early spring but rather late summer. Suddenly I can think about other things but only work. Like friends! And bake saffron buns! And lie in bed reading mystery novels all day! Or do nothing at all!

I wish you have a weekend doing whatever makes you happy.
Christmas Market at HDK this weekend
Sandra's things
and other student's products
Lots of other Christmas Craft events in Sweden here

new book

247 Swedish craft artists was released last week.
I´m on page 153.
Marie Louise Sundquist on page 303
Karin Eriksson on page 220
Paula Lindblom on 172
Together with the 243 others it's pretty heavy. Familiar names, some I haven't seen for a while and many new to me, too.

Both in Swedish and English. It can be ordered from the publisher's website here (SEK 298) and will be for sale at Konstepidemin's Christmas market December 12 - 16.

It's time to slow down and enjoy more now, I'll do my best. Wish you the same!

trees

Top photo is my favorite Mizue Ogiso piece from the show she and Mitsuhiro Ikeda have at Konstepidemin now, until December 14. They are staying in one of the guest studios for the second time, nice to have them back. (The other tree is also from the Konstepidemin yard)

From last Saturday, Patrik Andiné open studio

Thankful for Friday. Time to eat ginger cookies and light candles and stars. Wish you a joyful weekend.

south african visit

Yesterday, first snow.

Quick, much too quick, visit by South African artists yesterday. They are exhibiting at Frölunda Kulturhus: Dolla Sapeta, Ayanda Mji, and Alan Grobler from Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. James Malinga is also part of the show.
Photo from neighbor Per's studio, guess he was happy to get inside from the cold for a moment.

The small world: Ayanda is a ceramic sculptor and we immediately found connection in Priscilla Mouritzen and the ceramic center in Skaelskør, where we've both enjoyed being.

Article (Swedish) from children´s workshop with Alan Grobler at Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality

garlands and wreaths show

The wreath show is lovely, if I may say so being part of it. Nina Zetterquist and Kerstin Åsling-Sundberg are wreath craft lovers and did a great job arranging the pieces. Wish we have a wreath show every year, with more artists involved, it's inspiring and playful.

From the top: Blå Huset overview, Amalia Kenamets, Nina Zetterquist Kristin Lavransdotter crown, Kerstin Åsling-Sundberg and bottom my latest ceramic garland.
More photos will come.

Camilla's show opened and there is an interview (in Swedish).
World Beach cards, from the Sue Lawty initiated project

december season beginning

November preparations for December is hectic. Last week, when picking up some of my work at Nääs konsthantverk, a walk by the lake. Life saving. At Nääs konsthantverk they prepared for the Christmas show that opened on Saturday. Looked promising.

I was at Konstepidemin for another opening, will post more from that next week.
Rogerts Bondesson had open studio, among other things.
Carina Fihn: Guest artist of the month: Karin Seufert