SEW SCANDINAVIAN

The text line is from the psalm Hur härligt vittna skog och sjö written by Zacharias Topelius in 1879. Freely translated it says "In the splendours of the northern lights and robed in stars" As with many psalms the lyrics can be sung with several melodies, for example the well known melody to I denne ljuva sommertid by Nathan Söderblom in Sweden, and in Finland to a melody by Johann Balthasar König from 1738. The Swedish version as included in the "Swedish Sunday school song book for use in homes, school, and Sunday services for children" published in 1929, can be found here.

BEAD IT, LUCIA

Our kids love crafting with Hama fuse beads, and their December creations often get an honorary place on their own little trees. Last year I made these Lucia ornaments for our youngest, a quick and easy project. If you want to make your own, just enlarge the picture, they're easy to copy.

ITCHING TO STITCH

Korsstygnsbolaget gathers and publishes old embroidery patterns. I've been on the look out for a pattern that could be used on holiday pillows, and this is the latest candidate. I might need to change the colours to make it a better fit in our home but it's too bad because I quite like the folkloristic use of yellow, red and pastels in this one.
IMAGE: KORSSTYGNSBOLAGET, USED WITH PERMISSION 

EMBROIDERY ON THE EDGE

Another great pattern from Korsstygnsbolaget. Original pattern from 1850. Enjoy! 

IMAGE: KORSSTYGNSBOLAGET; USED WITH PERMISSION

READY TO WEAR FOR YOUR WALLS

Sofia Magnusson, the entrepreneur behind The Folklore Company wanted to combine her appreciation for traditional folklore decorating with a modern lifestyle. She created a web application where you can design your own embroidered wall hanging and have it ready made and delivered! 

I was impressed that they also offer the option of turning your design into a DIY kit. That shows respect for the original craft and handmade creations, earning them bonus points from me. 

And then I found the sample wall hanging above... Ha! It's like they know me... 

A global site is in the makings, so stay tuned folks. 

IMAGE: SAMPLE IMAGE, THE FOLKLORE COMPANY, USED WITH PERMISSION 

HUBRIS

This could be the year pigs finally learn how to fly, because I am determined to finish a sewing project before Christmas. The plan: a simple envelope pillow with a legible line from a Christmas song embroidered on front.
IMAGE: MADE USING THE CROSS STICH WRITING TOOL

WISH ME LUCK

When temperatures drop low enough, I don't linger outside on my evening errands. Instead, I entertain delusions of having enough time to make something and linger on websites such as Korsstygnsbolaget in search of a small little something that might be easy enough. 

IMAGE: KORSTYGNSBOLAGET. USED WITH PERMISSION  

IS THIS BRAIN REALLY SWITCHED ON?

I can't believe it. I finally located the embroidered christmas ornaments that I made, ehem, 5 years ago.  I never pieced them together and lost them in the move here. Or so I thought. Found them a month ago, and did a little happy dance. Men säg den lycka som varar. I have no idea where I put them after that. Sigh. 

IMAGES: KORSSTYGNSBOLAGET; USED WITH PERMISSION 

IT'S NOT HOW YOU START, IT'S HOW YOU FINISH?

The rain is pouring down outside, and though it's too soon to start the christmas crafting, I'm digging out the emboidery box in an attempt to whip together the projects that never made it past the finish line last year, or the year before that, or before that..., well, you get the idea.  

The cross stitch patterns above comes from Korsstygnsbolaget, my favourite site for tiny patterns that can be finished in less than an one hour. Which seems to be the time span I should be aiming for with my unimpressive track record of completed needlework. 

IMAGE: KORSSTYGNSBOLAGET, USED WITH PERMISSION

PLAN AHEAD

This price is unbeatable: 13 SEK (about 1,75 USD) each  on sale. Stock up with one for each window of your house/office/church/school etc (don't forget to grab a bunch of extra bulbs on sale). Adventsstake Ola available in white and red at Jula.

With prices this low I'd get one each for your kids, students, young women groups, etc. Let them decorate them as part of a christmas party or after school activity and take home for their own rooms. Very popular. Very easy to supervise. Very good. 

IMAGE: JULA WEBSHOP

JULSTJÄRNA

If I was sewing a gift for my mother-in-law this year, this would be on it. An original from 1674.
The pattern, not the mother-in-law, of course!
IMAGE: KORSSTYGNSBOLAGET; USED WITH PERMISSION

FOR BRAVE SEAMSTRESSES ONLY

Speaking of needlework, the most intricate embroidery in Norway is from the region of Hardanger. That's something to keep you busy on a rainy day. Girl in bunad from Hardanger ca 1900.

IMAGE: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, USA [PUBLIC DOMAIN]

DOWNSIZING

I have been wanting to try my hands at creating a Finnish himmeli this fall. So here I am, pacing around the apartment, trying to find a good spot for one. Can't say that it's going particularly well. I might have to settle for a bunch of small stars. Instructions from Slöjd i Väst HERE. 

IMAGE: SLÖJD I VÄST VIA 365SLÖJD.SE

DOLLING IT UP

Time to kill indoors? How about the Swedish Crown princess and her husband Prince Daniel as paper dolls, complete with several outfits, by illustrator Lotta Bruhn? Available as free download at Lotta's webpage. We're waiting for the update featuring the newbord heir: princess Estelle... 

IMAGE: LOTTA BRUHN, USED WITH PERMISSION

SEAM-STRESS

A few of you may be wondering how my embroidery is coming along. Most of you probably realize that it's not. Apparently a hoop is needed and I lack a hoop, that's why. It's presently not in the highest percentile of priorities on the to do list, but I promise that as soon as I get the previous 176 items cleared off the list, you'll be informed.
IMAGE: KORSSTYGNSBOLAGET

THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT

We lack a krubba/krybbe/créche/nativity scene. Plans of the future include a visit to Germany, Italy or Slovenia for its aqcuisition. I carefully folded and pasted last year's nativity. It lasted about two weeks until our toddler transformed it into confetti.

Have you visited the Papermodelkiosk? They offer several free print outs for nativity scenes in different degrees of difficulty, as well as a large selection for sale. You need a (free) account to download. The magi nativity and Candle Triptych are perfect for children to complete. Assembly instructions on the site.
IMAGE: PAPERMODELKIOSK

A STARRY SIGHT

If my planning wouldn't get in the way of actual execution I might have finished my initial intentions before Brita Johansson of Korstygnsbolaget tempted me to change the plan with these stars.
IMAGE: KORSSTYGNSBOLAGET; USED WITH PERMISSION 

THE RED THREAD

I scored some red high quality embroidery floss this summer and had visions of embroidered grandeur for christmas. Well, visions or delusions. Potejto potahto. 

Britta Johansson has a large collection of small historical knit and embroidery patterns, and offer free ones on her blog Korsstygnsbolaget. These caught my eye. Decorative, simple and small (i.e. easy to finish).   

IMAGES: KORSSTYGNSBOLAGET, USED WITH PERMISSION 

PINING AWAY

Before the actual tree enters the home, I love to buy tiny greenery. No decoration needed, just place in white or gray pots, perhaps with a few pinecones to cover the soil. It's just enough of an aperitif as we approach advent season. A prelude. 

If they are superfluous when the tree has arrived their snippets spruce up gifts, the christmas buffet, or they can be placed in the children's room. (It's great fun for the kids to craft decorations for their own tiny tree.)

IMAGE: IKEA.COM

EASY PEASY LEMON SQUEEZY

Cleaned the refrigerator a couple of days ago and found a forgotten lemon in the back of the top shelf. I usually dry some orange slices, but we'll have a twist to the mix this year.