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Floral Bunnies

SWEDEN + TRAVEL

Friday Flowers

SWEDEN + TRAVEL

50 Shades of Gray

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Monday Hello — “Mysig” Monday Greetings

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A “Mysig” Swedish Winter Morning

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DAY 13: LUCIA

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Ornament No. 3 | Lucia Nightlight Ornament

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24 DAYS of Scandinavian Christmas Creativity daily at willowday

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Day 1 | Plaster-dipped Pine bow Votives | Dag 1

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24 Days of Scandinavian Christmas Creativity returns

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70 + Scandinavian Holiday Projects

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Dala Horse Banks

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Easy Paper Swedish-inspired Projects for kids

SWEDEN + TRAVEL

Where to eat in Stockholm with kids

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Stockholm with kids

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Happy New Year

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Lucia in Sweden

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The Creative Collective Calendar 2016 | 25 Creative Days of Christmas in Sweden

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Semla Cake Pops

SWEDEN + TRAVEL

Gâteau des Rois | Kings Cake and Paper Crowns

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25 Creative Days of Christmas in Sweden

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Things to see in Oslo with Kids

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Interview with Karin Schaefer | Make a Spinning Top that creates illusions

SWEDEN + TRAVEL

Västergötland

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Happy Friday and Few Things

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Swedish Snowball Lanterns

KITCHEN

Day 14: Swedish Gingerbread Cookies and Cake | Pepparkakor

SWEDEN + TRAVEL

5 Family Hikes in Vemdalen

SWEDEN + TRAVEL

Interview with Linda Gimle

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Inspirational Road trip to Dalarna

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Notes from Sweden: Be

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5 Family Friendly Restaurants in Stockholm

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Notes from Sweden: Jenny Hellström

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Happy Friday

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Happy New Year Wishes

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Swedish Lights, December Nights

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  • KIDS: Foxy Friday Flowers for kids!. . While Sweden’s all about celebrating Midsummer today, I wanted to give parents with kids and kids a little nature idea for creativity anywhere in the world. . . I’ve missed sharing a Friday Flowers for a few weeks but wanted to send kids off with imaginations in nature this weekend with more in the #willowdayflowersafari project.. . F is for Fir Fox More here: #willowdayflowersafari . . Nature and imagination is ripe with idea and I loved @handmakery ’s Woodland Fox party where these fox could easily show up. If you try, I’d love to see your flower animals too! . Happy Friday Flowers & imaginations for kids! .
  • And we prepare for the day... . With a song in the air & a flower in her hair; working towards a Midsummer Day. . ..
  • 7 sorts of Midsummer Cookies. . . While today is the first day of summer, tomorrow is the Swedish Midsummer Holiday and I’m working to prepare for this with all I have. . . Since both my husband and I have moved to Sweden as adults, (although he has had many childhood visits here) we learn something new about celebrating Midsummer every year. . - Floral Crowns. - Midsummer Poles - The Frog Dance - 7 flowers under the pillow and more Now: 7 cookies: Last week, a friend tied the traditional “7 Swedish Cookies*” into midsummer for me. Abiding to her Swedish in-laws family traditions, she not only dresses up in hand sewn folk dress but, also bakes a variety of 7 cookies for their extended family. I’d never heard of this before but I loved the idea —- was highly motivated —- but, then, reality set in. When? I’m meeting this tradition halfway — maybe just 1/7th of the way — 1 recipe, 7 ways.. . Shortbread 7 Sorts of Cookies Ingredients: 1 dl sugar 250 g grams room temperature butter 4 1/2 dl flour Instruction: Cream sugar and butter. Add flour. Blend well. Chill dough 1 hour. Roll dough to cut shapes or make small teaspoon sized balls rolled in sugar. Roll in sugar or paint with food colouring like watercolours, optional. Bake at 180 C /375 F for 6 minutes (or just until almost brown) If you’ve never heard of “the 7 Cookie tradition, earlier, it’s what you do for birthdays and high occasions: bake 7 different cookies for guests. I read up that on the historical essence of this and found that it comes from a 19th century decision that 7 was the perfect number for a hostess to bake to show that they wanted to celebrate their guests; but, not trying too hard to impress with overabundance.. . My family like shortbread and using a simple, Swedish recipe, I’ve cut 7 flowers and leaves and brushed the with gel food coloring that I dilute to use as watercolours. Some cookies were rolled and cut into shapes. Some where balls that I flattened and gave flower edges to with the tines of a fork; some simply left as ball then rolled in sugar. It’s a flexible recipe and a perfect way to invite the kids into create. Happy Midsummer to you!
  • Daisy Day wishes! (With Elderberry Essence, too!) . Out with my 🚲 and returning home with a basket full of elderberries & wildflowers 🌸 — some flowers just because they’re pretty and the elderberry, with ambitions to try to make “elderberry saft.” .(elderberry concentrates for drinks) . With midsummer’s Eve celebrations on Friday and tomorrow bringing the last school, where to start? Have a great day!
  • There’s a feeling of midsummer in the air with Friday’s weather forecast looking very classic: rain by lunch.. . Today, I was whirling around town and captured a few glimpses of the city for you in my stories. It looked fully deserving of that title I hear now and again, “Venice of the North.” . If you’ve never visited Stockholm before, it might surprise you to see how much water is a part of the city. The city itself is made of 14 islands; then, drifts off into the Stockholm Archipelago of 20,000 island. Getting to know the city by boat is a great way to get a feel for the city and there are many options from “Nybrokajen.” ............................................ . I have some technical issues on my blog right now and can’t currently post anything new. . . I’m sharing this because I love it when I hear from you about visiting. If you click on the heading, “Sweden and Travel,” you can find several posts where I share favourite things to do in Stockholm with kids; as well as Copenhagen and Oslo, too. . . As a part of a larger project, I’m working on updating that info; but hope the current posts will get you started. If there’s something special you’re looking forward, I’d love to hear from you. Tell me in the comments below and I’ll try to get you answers: now or when I update. . Happy Tuesday. And, if visiting Sweden for the first time: pack in layers. You can feel all 4 seasons in one day midsummer week!
  • Happy Father’s Day to those who are celebrating! (And if you’re not, 3 cheers for top knots & a hug) . While my mother reminds me of “all of the flowers of the world;” my Dad makes me think of trees. .. . We won’t celebrate this holiday or my hubby in Sweden until November but, today, as I lifted the phone to call my own Dad in the US with wishes; leaves from my lawn landed in this little “Ode to Dads” My father is truly someone who transforms the world around him. The spirit of his super natural strength, presence… mystery … have clues that unlock themselves in memories I have of walks we had as I was little girl + now; often near and around trees. . . Growing up, we planted trees together; grew them; gifted trees from the mini nursery we had in the back yard and more. I’ve held on to a note that he wrote me on a beautiful piece white birch bark that he found on a walk throughout many moves. I often think of the time that he humoured me with the smile of a conspirator and helped me move a 10 foot long branch back to my apartment strapped to the top of our car in a 6 hour car ride. . . He’s really the one who’s attention to trees and flowers — the beauty of nature — informed art I see in nature; even though we express it differently. His roots forever anchor our family tree + keep us returning, again and again. I have so much to thank him for. Happy day to our Fathers —
  • FLOURISH: I love this word —for my kids, relationships, health, hopes for my own art work, creativity - flowers- and more. -. . Where you do best flourish and how? . To keep my family flourishing, it’s best for me to do studio work from my home. No day, week, month — no hour — is ever the same. I gave up my office in Old Town when my oldest was born + have rolled with it ever since. Sure, my studio can overflow into many other rooms of the house; but, as one of my daughter’s visiting friends recently said, “it’s the cosy kind of messy” . Why the picture of me? I recently realised that I’ve shared a lot of table top photos but, zero me. Although I’m coming off the photo opportunity of a Parisian-little-black-dress-and-heels-weekend on the Seine, it just feels right to give you instead an everyday glimpse of a real morning: after the kids have gone to school, a little yoga, a little walk with the dogs, possibly a little soil on my cheek, paint on my hands, no make up and my bedhead hair up in a top knot. . . I truly appreciate your time, your comments, your support and your thoughtfulness on my willowday creative journey — I hope a little willowday spreads to you — [and If you want to see me look straight into your eyes to say the same: slide right. ] ………….. . The idea of flourish came front and centre, last night, when Ali, of @incredibusy announced the new hashtag challenge: #sgiew_FLOURISH . This is a hashtag that I cheer it on from afar as a host of sorts. This hashtag’s leader will be @MelWiggins who you have to go follow and she posts about flourish. You can see the previous winners of #sgiew in the feed, but, now: tag your photos (and your stories too!) with #sgiew_flourish, and don't forget to click the hashtag to check out some of the lovely accounts that join in with #sgiew. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
  • Process. . I’m arriving back in Sweden after celebrating double birthdays of dearest of dear friends who live in Paris. (Oh... that city & the easy joy of old dear cherished friends...) All dance, dining and doing with no work; but over a weekend like this; old friends and new bring the question, what are you up too? “ . I met my dear friend back when I was in a BFA program so she’s seen many phases of my art; but I ended up pulling this little kitchen video out time and time again as a way to explain the recent floral illustration process I’ve worked with. . . One petal at a time: a picture (in this case, film) can be worth 1 thousand words. I hope you might enjoy seeing a blip in time of the process, too. . . And I wish you the best of nights... and starts to the week tomorrow. My work, this week, will carry the spirit of a Paris on a summer’s night with me...❤️. . #willowdayflowerproject
  • It’s raining cats and dogs up here in Sweden. . Floral Max and Fio, are packaged and will fly out the door today.. . Adding personalized typography to this dog print is such a fun + simple way to personalise; but, yes: I do take new commissions for all pets —- and people —- in all shapes and sizes— and, even, stuffed animals. I have just a new prints in my shop but DM me if you would like something personalized. Can’t tell you the thrill of receiving my first mail from Australia for a teddy bear! . #willowdayflowerproject #ginavideillustration

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