Precious Sister

VISIT OUR NEW SITE

2012-02-25T15:33:00.000+01:00

Hello you guys, have you forgotten about us yet :). Well, we are here to tell you that, our new site is up and running and that we would love if you stopped by. We have been waiting for this for a long time, having experienced quite a few troubles along getting the site ready. Anyways from today on we will be posting at this new adress:

www.precioussister.com

This blog will still be here, but we wont update it any longer. All the content here has also been moved to the new blog.

Have a great day! /Annika & Sussi

ps. I have a small secret to tell you.....head on over to our new site an I'll let you know:)

FROSTY COLOR PALETTE

2012-01-26T14:10:00.001+01:00

We have had some intensely beautiful frosty mornings this week here on Fyn, Denmark. Up until now the winter has been pretty mild, but the last couple of days it has become more chilly and frosty. The mornings are especially gorgeous and the light creates a fairy-tale like landscape. When nature brings you sights like this, it almost hurts the heart and it can be hard to contain it all, but it's a really good source of inspiration.

I always just feel like hugging everything, when nature overwhelms me like this....wanting to keep it all close to me. The hugging would be a bit problematic and also look quite stupid :), so I take pictures instead. I's my way of containing it and keeping it close.

Have a beautiful day!

/Annika & Sussi

GREEN DRINK

2012-01-18T18:40:00.000+01:00

Hi, hope you are all doing just wonderful.

I sometimes find it difficult to eat enough fruit and vegetables to get me the vitamins I need, especially during the wintertime.

So I remembered, that I some time ago saw a recipe, where spinach were used in a drink.

As I almost always have fresh spinach at home, I went straight to my fridge, hoping to be inspired and find something to mix it with.

I opened the fridge and the lemon and ginger just called out at me:

USE ME, USE ME.....:-)

So I grabbed 'em and came up with this wonderful drink:

1 handful of spinach (frozen will do as well)

Juice from 1/2 lemon

A small piece of ginger

About 1,5 dl of water

Run it all through a blender.

BON APPETITE

/Sussi & Annika

2012 COLORS & TRENDS

2012-01-15T18:07:00.000+01:00

Hello all, hope you have a wonderful weekend. Just popping in to show you a few pics from the fair we went to this weekend.

There's so much beautiful stuff out there and the trend is quite wide, so we have chosen to show you some of our favorites. You'll find a lot earthy tones, rough materials like wood, metal and burlap. Knit is also a huge thing at the moment and preferably multicolored. Of course the "junk" trend is still very much in style and it is mixed with gorgeous patterns and colors and we like it.

Have a great Evening

/Annika & Sussi

INSPIRATION TO STAY CREATIVE

2012-01-13T20:36:00.000+01:00

Being creative is what we love. Sometimes it's the easiest job in the world, when ideas keep coming like running water. But it'll happen that you run dry, or it can be hard to get the ideas together, form and create anything.

In general it can be hard always to stay creative, both when making things or crafting, but also in daily life. This is something that requires you to feel inspired. I believe it's the single most important thing to anything and everything you do in life. You have to feel inspired to be creative.

So where do you get inspiration? I don't think there's a single solution to this, it's very much about what triggers your emotions, but it can also be very personal. It might be the smiles on your kids faces, nature, old ribbons and materials, your home....really it can be anything.

Like me feeling inspired to write this post, when I read a draft, for an "about" page to a website, my partner had written. It really inspired me, when I read his words on how he sees our partnership and visions for this company him and I are starting. And it made me want to create something.

This weekend Sussi and I are going to Formland, a home accessory fair, to be inspired by the coming trends of 2012. It's going to be exciting and it's always fun to discover new things for the home and hopefully to be inspired to create some snazzy, fun projects we can post here on the blog for you guys

May you all have a great weekend

/Annika & Sussi

NEW SHADE OF LIGHT

2012-01-12T19:19:00.002+01:00

For a long time I have been looking for a new lamp for our bedroom, and I wanted to find something that I could give a touch of my own. (Almost never buy something bright new).

And then one day, it was right there in front of me, in a charity shop, looking all brown and sad, just begging to get a makeover. So I bought the poor thing, payed like nothing (3EUR) - just love a good bargain:-)

Back home I went through my fabric and ribbons, came up with this combination and started to create a new life for this lamp. A life that he'd probably never would have imagined. :-)

It only took me a couple of hours to finish this project "new shade of light" and I´m very happy about the result.

Have a wonderful Thursday.

/Sussi & Annika

Linking up to these parties:

Fire Flies and Jellybeans

The shabby creek cottage

Beyond the picket fence

CROCHET BABY "CONVERSE"

2012-01-11T19:45:00.000+01:00

When I stumbled upon this pattern of a pair of baby "Converse", I just had to try it out, and I made them as a Christmas-gift for a baby in our family.

And I think they are just adorable:-)

You´ll find the pattern at Ravelry.

The teddy-bear on the first picture is actually my (Sussi´s) first teddybear. I got it from my Dad, when I was a newborn, and still in the hospital with my Mom. And thanks to our Mom I still have it. She was an amazing woman in many ways. Among other things, she saved some of our stuff & babyclothes from our early childhood. And I just love to keep memories like this teddybear.

Have an amazing day.

/Sussi & Annika

Linking up to these parties:

Seven Thirty Three

Thrifty101

RECYCLING CHRISTMAS-DECOR

2012-01-10T15:08:00.000+01:00

After december, when all the Christmas-decor are tucked away waiting for next Christmas to arrive, it can sometimes feel empty in the house and you need something fresh to look at.

As I love to use a lot of natural materials, also in december, I will end up with a lot of materials that are still useable after taking apart my Christmas-decorations.

Having materials like moss and little greens in front of me, I came up with this idea for two new decorations for my kitchen-window. The combination of moss, sempervivum and the green color gives me a feeling of growth, spring and brighter days to come.

Have a fantastic Tuesday.

/Sussi & Annika

MY LITTLE "HELPER"

2012-01-05T18:47:00.003+01:00

Hi, hope you have had a wonderful weekend.

I(Sussi) have been cleaning up my workspace all weekend, reorganising and getting rid of lots of stuff. To be honest, not a lot, because I'm terrible at throwing out stuff....what if I need exactly that piece for my next project? But I don't think(hope) I´m the only one ;-)

In return I really need everything to be organised, to be able to feel inspired and to be creative. What's also important to me, is having propper tools and equipment to create a good work flow. And I don´t mind it being eyecandy at the same time, like this gorgeous little pincushion I found at a flea-market some months ago.

Can anyone blame me for falling in love at first sight ;-)

Have a wonderful and creative week.

/Sussi & Annika

NEW YEAR & WHITE TULIPS

2012-01-05T13:43:00.004+01:00

Hello everyone and welcome back. I hope you had a good start to 2012 and that this year will bring you good spirit and inspire you to feel creative in your everyday life. We'll strive to continue to keep this a small world of everyday inspiration and creative projects. Soon we'll be moving our blog to another address, we are working on this at the moment, but we'll let you know more in a couple of days. Until then we'll keep posting here on this site.

Good to see you back here, and thank you so much for all your lovely greetings.

/Sussi & Annika

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2011-12-31T12:11:00.000+01:00

2011 has been a beautiful year and we can't wait to get started on 2012. So much is going to happen and we are exited about it.

Today we are celebrating with family and there is going to be lots of great food. Sussi made this gorgeous tulip decoration this morning and it's going to be our centerpiece for the table. It's gonna look beautiful.

Thank you for all of your wonderful comments. We're so glad that you like what we do, as we are so lucky enough to be doing what we love. We hope to continue to inspire you.

May you all have a wonderful and Happy New Year. See you in 2012.

/Annika & Sussi

CHOCOLATE FACTORY

2011-12-29T13:46:00.001+01:00

This year I bought a small Christmas present for myself, that I had been dreaming of for a while. Some of you might know that I(Annika) have a weak spot for homemade chocolate. I have a few recipes I like to use around Easter and Christmas, and I give these as presents or treats, all nicely wrapped, looking fiercely delicious :)

Up until now, I have been quite satisfied with a more simple chocolate making approach, one where I could shape the chocolate pieces with a spoon. But this year I was craving a bit more.

I got this idea of a chocolate with caramel filling into my head and it just wouldn't go away again. A while ago I stumbled across this delicious caramel recipe, that I was using for a cake, and I thought it would be perfect for the chocolate filling.

So for this little experiment of mine, I realized I needed to upgrade my chocolate making tools and I immediately thought of those beautiful old metal molds, you sometimes find in vintage shops. These are not necessarily easy or cheap to come by, but I was pretty lucky. I found this online store, Brocaatje, located in Holland, where I ordered a couple of beautiful molds.

So the week before Christmas I turned my kitchen into a small chocolate factory, testing and experimenting and it turned out beautifully. I even tested a couple of silicon molds, or actually they were ice cube trays from Ikea, and they worked very well too.

They were pretty easy to just turn upside down and the chocolate pieces would more or less pop out. The metal molds can be a bit harder to work with, but it looks so delicious, when you get it right.

I'm very much looking forward to be making more filled chocolate...actually thinking of permanently turning the kitchen into a chocolate factory. I mean, what else do you need besides homemade caramel filled chocolate :)

Have a great day!

/Annika & Sussi

DECEMBER COFFEE BREAKS

2011-12-27T09:38:00.001+01:00

After a few days with lots of great food and sharing time with family, we are now back. I hope you too had a joyful and relaxing Christmas with your families.

Even though this is a great time of year, it can also be very stressful. All of December you prepare for Christmas, and when that comes it only lasts a couple of days. And before we know it, it's New Year and we are celebrating the last days of the year. I really like this time of year, especially if I remember to enjoy and take my moments...my breaks. And I hope you do that too....take breaks.

You can find our favorite recipe for Biscotti here.

Have a great day.

/Annika & Sussi

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2011-12-24T11:00:00.000+01:00

WISHING YOU A JOYFUL CHRISTMAS

2011-12-23T11:00:00.000+01:00

We want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope that you have enjoyed our Christmas crafting during all of December. We have a lot of creative plans for 2012 and for the Precious Sister blog and we hope that you'll continue to follow us and be a part of this creative place of ours. Thank you so much for all of your sweet comments, they mean so much to us.

Happy Holidays to all!

/Annika & Sussi

CHRISTMAS NOIR

2011-12-22T09:52:00.001+01:00

This year I have totally fallen in love with an elegant 'Noir' style wrapping, with textured ribbons, lace and twine. All wrapped in brown paper, giving it a touch of yesterday.

I start dreaming of a snowy Christmas in the City of Love,

walking the streets of Paris,

hand in hand with the man of my dreams.

Merry 22. December.

/Annika & Sussi

Linking up to these parties:

Somewhat Simple

Fireflies & jellybeans

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Southern Lovely

Seven Thirty Three

Yesterday on Tuesday

Every Creative Endeavor

Saved by Love Creations

CHRISTMAS GIFT TAGS

2011-12-21T11:19:00.000+01:00

Christmas is all about giving...and we like to do that with style. That means a present is not just a present, it's also about how it is presented. When it comes to wrapping presents, only ones imagination sets the limit. If you are a crafty person, my guess is that you have a lot of buttons and ribbons laying around waiting for an occasion like this. But any beautifully wrapped presents needs a beautiful tag, and we have just that for you.

Here's a set of four different colored tags with individual text.

Download Christmas gift tags here

Merry 21. December.

/Annika & Sussi

Go here to see all the crafty Christmas posts.

Linking up to these parties:

A Bowl full of Lemons

Ginger Snap Crafts

The Sasse Life

PRESENT TAGS

2011-12-20T09:51:00.000+01:00

It's nice when a gift is presented well and I especially like when you use a box with a lid. It looks so good when you open it and the present is just laying there looking up at you.

These tags are perfect for just that. They will secure the box lid and add a perfect touch to you wrapping. Print them out on either adhesive paper or regular paper, and glue them to the box.

Download present tags here

Merry 20. December.

/Annika & Sussi

Go here to see all the crafty Christmas posts.

Linking up to these parties:

Sugar Bee Crafts

Tip Junkie

Today's Creative Blog

Not Just A Housewife

Ladybug Blessings

GIFT BAG TEMPLATE

2011-12-19T10:45:00.001+01:00

This is an awesome printable for little gifts and treats.

The bag measures: height: 13 cm, width: 9 cm and depth: 5 cm.

Choose from 4 different colors

Print the template and cut out along black lines. Score along white lines. Make holes as marked and assemble the bag. Secure it with glue/tape along side. Cut two pieces of string and make handles.

Download red goodie bag here

Download blue goodie bag here

Download brown goodie bag here

Download latte goodie bag here

Merry 19. December.

/Annika & Sussi

Go here to see all the crafty Christmas posts.

Linking up to these parties:

A bowl full of lemons

Craft O Maniac

Embellishing Life

Making the World Cuter

The Creative Girl

SNOWFLAKE CANDELS

2011-12-18T09:32:00.000+01:00

At this time of year, I think candles is a necessity. It adds a warmth to these cold winter months and it looks so inviting and cozy.

In this project we have Christmas pimped a couple of glass jars and added a bit of winter wonderland to them.

You'll need this:

- felt
- buttons
- glass jars
(our glass has a circumference of 27 cm)
- scissor
- needle & tread

1. Print out the following template.

2. Take a piece of felt and pin the template (don't cut out the template) to the felt, but keep room for the extra centimeters on the sided.

3. Now cut along the template, through both paper and felt (This is to create more stability when cutting.). Add the extra bit of felt to both sides. This gives you the possibility to adjust the size a bit, if your jar isn't exactly 27 cm.

4. Measure so the felt piece sits rather tight around the glass, mark and stitch.

5. Stitch on buttons and cut any excess felt.

Download pattern for snowflake candles here

Merry 18. December.

/Annika & Sussi

Go here to see all the crafty Christmas posts.

Linking up to:

A bowl full of lemons

CHRISTMAS PILLOW

2011-12-17T13:21:00.000+01:00

Decorating for Christmas can include more than just ornaments and Christmas trees. Making your own pillows and throws are a great way to add some cozy winter mood. This is a cute pillow that will fit with a classic Christmas or country style, but depending on your choice of fabric, it could fit anywhere in the house.

You'll find the instructions here

Merry 17. December.

/Annika & Sussi

Go here to see all the crafty Christmas posts.

CHRISTMAS "STOCKING"

2011-12-16T10:55:00.000+01:00

A Christmas stocking is a must for Christmas Eve. Where else is Santa Claus going to put the presents :)

There are so many cute looking Christmas stockings out there, but we are going to show you a slightly nontraditional one. This is a "stocking", but it doesn't have the sock shape. It's shaped as a sack and it's attached to an embroidery ring, which is a really nice and rustic detail. Your choice of fabric for this project is very much up to you. All though using two different kinds, creates a really nice contrast.

You'll find the instructions here

Merry 16. December.

/Annika & Sussi

Go here to see all the crafty Christmas posts.

Linking up to these parties:

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

The Shabby Nest
30 Handmade Days
Simply Designing
At the Picket Fence
Primp

CHRISTMAS BREAD BASKET

2011-12-15T11:00:00.000+01:00

I love homemade breadbaskets. It's such a nice cozy detail on the breakfast table or you can use it for nuts and Christmas sweets.

There are endless possibilities fabric wise and how you choose to decorate this basket. We have chosen 100 % linen and decorated it with some snowflake prints, in a deep red Christmas color.

Download instructions here

Download pattern for snowflakes here

Merry 15. December.

/Annika & Sussi

Go here to see all the crafty Christmas posts.

Linking up to these parties:

Beyond the Picket Fence

Shabby Creek Cottage

Making it with Allie

A Glimpse Inside

Crafty Scrapy Happy Me

Just us Four

X-MAS LETTERS

2011-12-14T08:55:00.000+01:00

This is a really cool project for the kids room. Of couse depending of your choice of fabric, this will go anywhere in the house, and add a really soft and cozy look. It could also be an alternative to Christmas pillows on the couch. It's a bit time consuming, but if you're used to sowing, you'll like the result of this project.

Click on the letters to download and print.

You'll find the instructions here

Merry 14. December.

/Annika & Sussi

Go here to see all the crafty Christmas posts.

Linking up to these parties:

Making it with Allie

Thrifty Decorating

Delightful Order

Fireflies & jellybeans

SWEDISH SAFFRON BUNS

2011-12-13T09:01:00.000+01:00

Christmas is not really Christmas without a lot of baking. Growing up in a family, that was blessed with a mother who just loved baking and cooking, we got to enjoy a lot of homemade breads and cookies. Around Christmas it was quite special, because my mom would bake for days to fill the cupboard and freezer, so she always had something delicious to serve, when people came over.

These buns are Swedish saffron buns, pretty much a sweet wheat bun, except for the saffron spice, which gives it a lovely color and makes it smell fantastic. Today it's St. Lucia Day and on this day saffron buns are traditionally enjoyed in Sweden.

Merry 13. December.

/Annika & Sussi

Go here to see all the crafty Christmas posts.

Linking up to:

It's so Very Cheri

PACK OF CHRISTMAS CARDS

2011-12-12T18:00:00.000+01:00

There's nothing like receiving a card on Christmas. I love to receive a card with a small personal message. This little printable could be used as a small gift as it works as a small collection of cards.

It's a set of 4 cards in different colors with individual text. You also get an envelope/case to store all the cards.

For best result, print on carton like sheet, so the cards get a postcard feel.

Download envelope here

Download cards here

Merry 12. December.

/Annika & Sussi

Go here to see all the crafty Christmas posts.

We're linking up to:

Nifty Thrifty Sunday Party
A Bowl Full of Lemons

FURRY CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

2011-12-11T13:50:00.000+01:00

Over the last couple of days, we have showed you a few ways to make your own Christmas ornaments balls, and today we have yet another one. This is going to be the last of these, but I assure you; you do not wanna miss this one:)

These Christmas ornaments are made with fur and they are super cute. Hard not to fall in love with this little softy.

Materials:

- fur or faux fur

- glue-gun

- Christmas balls

-string

- scissor

1. Cut out fur into boat shaped(see here) pieces. You'll have to decide the length and width according to the size of your Christmas ball.

2. Now glue the fur pieces onto the Christmas ball, covering the entire ball.

3. Tie a piece of string to the finished Christmas ball and it's ready to hang.

Merry 12. December.

/Annika & Sussi

Go here to see all the crafty Christmas posts.

PINECONE ORNAMENTS

2011-12-11T11:27:00.001+01:00

Decorating with what the nature has to offer, is a favorite of ours. Pinecones are really versatile and can be used in many ways, ranging from decorations to having the kids paint and making little figures from them.

Today we are using them as ornaments and they are to hang from the Christmas tree. This is perfect if you like a more natural feel in your Christmas decorating. Happy 3rd Advent.

Merry 11. December.

/Annika & Sussi

Go here to see all the crafty Christmas posts.

Linking up to:

The DIY Show off party
Under the Table and Dreaming Sunday Showcase Party
It's so very Cheri Party Time
Fireflies & Jellybeans

YARN CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

2011-12-09T16:19:00.000+01:00

You know those projects you can do while snuggling up in a chair with a blanket and watching tv or listening to music? Well, this is one of them. So put on a pot of tea and go get your materials :)

You'll need a few items:

- A couple of different colored yarn balls

- Glue, preferably a glue-stick

- Christmas balls

- Scissor

1. Take a Christmas ball and dab it with the glue stick. The glue is to get a sticky surface, so the yarn wont slide of while winding.

2. Now take a yarn ball and press the loose end of it into the glue somewhere in the middle of the Christmas ball.

3. Now start winding the yarn around the Christmas ball horizontally. This way you secure the end and you start to fill out the ball. Continue to wind vertically as well, going from one side of the top and down, to the other side of the top, while rotating the ball. This way the thread secure itself. Wind until you have completely covered the Christmas ball.

4. When you are done, cut of the end and secure it by tying a knot into the strings.

Merry 9. December.

/Annika & Sussi

Go here to see all the crafty Christmas posts.

FROSTY THE "SWEATER" SNOWMAN

2011-12-08T15:59:00.000+01:00

I have so many fond memories of my childhood. One in particular was when it was winter and my kid brother and I played around in the snow, building snowmen and little igloos from snowballs and placed lit candles in them. It sometimes got really dark outside, in the afternoon around our house, so we placed them in front of the kitchen windows, so my mom could look out into dark and see these glowing igloos. I remember seeing her, from the outside, standing there in the kitchen, being really busy baking and making food for us, and for some reason it just didn't feel so cold outside.

This snowman is a charmer and it's a perfect project for the kids as well.

Download the instructions here

Merry 8. December.

/Annika & Sussi

Go here to see all the crafty Christmas posts.

Linking up to:

House of Hepworths "Hooking up with HoH" party

The 36 Avenue Thursday Party

Tankar från Trädgårdsmästaren - Pysseltips-Party

SWEET DREAMS

2011-12-07T22:22:00.000+01:00

You know that feeling, when you see something so beautiful, that makes everything around you stand still and you move into this bubble...into this dream like state? Well that's how I felt when I started flipping through this magazine.

I recently discovered the blog Valdirose by Irene, and today she published this gorgeous magazine filled with breathtaking imagery and inspiration, and I just had to share this beauty with you. This magazine will make you have the sweetest of dreams.

Thank you for being so talented, Irene....and for sharing it.

/Annika & Sussi

photos by Irene

SACK FOR CHRISTMAS TREE

2011-12-07T09:27:00.000+01:00

Yesterday we showed you how to make a slightly different Christmas tree and today we have the instructions for a sack to cover up the bottom. This project can be used for any tree or plant you wish to add a bit detail too. It would also add a great decor detail and coziness to the bigger Christmas tree in the house.

Download the instructions here

Merry 7. December.

/Annika & Sussi

Go here to see all the crafty Christmas posts.

CHRISTMAS TREE IN DISGUISE

2011-12-06T11:50:00.000+01:00

Christmas is very much about tradition, and there are quite a few things we associate with Christmas. The Christmas tree, with its glitter, lights and sparkly ornaments, is probably one of the greatest symbols of Christmas. Mostly they are pine trees and rather big, and once you get them in the house, you don't really move them around much.

So we thought we would make a slightly different tree, one that you can place on a table or wherever you like. Since the size of this tree is what you make it, you can make it fit anywhere in your house.

This is a very easy project and you can decorate it however you like. Later this week we will post instructions on how to make the ornaments that are pictured with the tree. And tomorrow we'll tell you how to make a Christmas sack for the tree.

Happy project....and please let us know if you have any qustions.

Merry 6. December.

/Annika & Sussi

Go here to see all the crafty Christmas posts.

HANDMADE CHRISTMAS NAPKINS

2011-12-05T12:48:00.000+01:00

One of my favorite things about Christmas is the coming together, sharing good food and conversations, enjoying the company of family and friends.

Of course you don't do this without setting a really nice table, am I right? :-) I personally love table settings. I think it compliments the hours and effort you have put into preparing a festive meal for your guests.

So today's project is about napkins. Handmade with a beautiful print. There are so many gorgeous napkins out there, beautiful patterns, shapes and sizes. But there is something else about a linen napkin. It really adds a luxurious touch to a table setting.

You'll need these materials:

- linen
- sewing machine or needle & thread
- textile paint & dish
- sponge
- thin plastic sheet for the template
- hobby knife
- tape and sewing pins
- printout of your text

1. Cut a piece of prewashed linen with the dimensions 24 x 32 centimeter.

2. Double fold the edges (1 cm for each fold) and sew along the sides, to secure fold and create a nice finish on the napkins. Because of the double fold, even the back gets a nice finish.

3. Download and print out the words (A4) for the napkins here.

4. Take your plastic sheet and place on top of the printout. Secure with tape. Cut out the letter from the plastic with a knife. Now you have you template.

5. Take your napkin and place the template on top in the middle. Secure the plastic to the fabric with tape or sewing pins.

6. Pour out some textile paint into a dish, dip your sponge and carefully dab the sponge onto the template, filling out the letters. Make sure you dab vertically so you don't smear out the letters. Also keep a minimum of paint on the sponge, and rather dab several times to fill out letters. Let dry.

7. Last you need to fixate the print. This is a very individual step, as the different textile paints requires different fixations. Please read the description of your textile paint to fixate accordingly.

Now go ahead and make all the napkins you need. Remember to rinse the template for paint between the prints. This will make sure you don't transfer any excess paint to the next napkin.

Download A4 words for napkin here

Merry 5. December.

/Annika & Sussi

Go here to see all the crafty Christmas posts.

Linking up to:

The Lettered Cottage's Holiday Table Decor

DOOR WREATH

2011-12-04T11:00:00.000+01:00

Christmas is not really Christmas without decorations and a wreath on the door is a must. And as always we like to make use of slightly different materials. This wreath is as elegant as it is natural.

You'll need these materials:

- a straw wreath

- glue gun

- metal pins or wire

- pieces of fur

- butcher paper

- different shaped pine-cones

- pieces of bark

- Christmas ornament balls

- chiffon fabric

Start by taking your straw wreath and attaching pieces of fur with glue, and paper and chiffon with pins or wire to cover the front and sides. The paper can be crumpled to give it a more casual look and the chiffon can be folded in small flower like piles to create movement.

When the wreath is covered, you can glue on pine-cones, pieces of bark and Christmas balls where you see fit. Because you're using natural material, like bark and pine-cones, this will not be a 'one solution only' wreath. This wreath will take shape as you work on it.

Merry 4. December.

/Annika & Sussi

Go here to see all the crafty Christmas posts.

WORDS FOR CHRISTMAS

2011-12-03T10:52:00.001+01:00

Today is going to be all about words and how you can easily make your own word art. Words and letters are really popular at the moment and this project will make for a great Christmas present. Since it's going to be hand-painted by you, it will be even more special.

You'll need:

- frame with a hard backing / piece of wood-board

- black paint

- white paint

- brushes

- chalk

- a printout of your words

- a pencil

- tape

1. Paint the frame backing/board black and let it dry.

2. Print out the words so they match the size of you frame. I used an A4 frame and the printouts below the pictures, will all fit an A4 frame/board

3. Take your printout and cover the backside with chalk. Now place the printout with the chalk facing down against the painted surface (make sure the paint is dry). Secure with tape.

4. Take your pencil and trace around the letters. This will make the chalk rub of on the surface. Try not to drag your hand to much over the paper, to avoid smearing out the chalk, while tracing. When done, lift paper and you can now see your traced letters on the board.

5. Next step takes a bit of patience. You'l now have to fill out all the letters with white paint. This step requires you to let it dry in between, so you avoid smearing out the paint. The easiest way is to first paint along the edges of the letters and then fill them with paint.

6. When the paint has dried, take a cloth and wipe of the excess chalk.

Now you're done and you can frame your words :-)

Click on any of the word pictures to download or print.

Merry 3. December.

/Annika & Sussi

Go here to see all the crafty Christmas posts.

DECORATED JAR FOR TREATS

2011-12-02T08:43:00.001+01:00

Welcome to our first day of crafty Christmas cheer here on the blog. As you may have read yesterday, we are going to post a lot of ideas, that hopefully will inspire and keep you crafting all of December.

Today we have this little cutie for you. This is a great way to spice up those homemade treats. It's a simple project, which can be adapted to pretty much any jar (we re-used a honey jar).

You'll need this:

- Glass jar or canister with lid

- Fabric

- Wide rubber band or glue

- Matching string or ribbon

- A pom pom (buy from craft store or make your own) or a button

- Glue

1. Measure diameter of the jar lid and add 10 cm. This is the diameter of the cut fabric. Draw a circle on the fabric with that diameter. Cut fabric along the line.

2. Glue a pom-pom or button to the middle of the round piece of fabric.

3. Place fabric on your jar and use the rubber band around the lid to keep it in place. You can also glue the fabric onto the lid, then you don't need the rubber band.

4. Now take your string or ribbon and tie around the lid to cover rubber band.

Now there's only left to fill it with your favorite candy or sweet treats and go out and make someone smile with your homemade gift.

Merry 2. December. Se you tomorrow

/Sussi & Annika

CRAFTY CHRISTMAS CHEER

2011-11-29T15:36:00.001+01:00

Christmas is a great time of year. It's about family, coming together, eating great food and...decorating. So we thought we'd spread some Christmas joy by giving you some inspiration and creative ideas during this December.

We'll post all sorts of projects everyday up until Christmas. You'll find anything from paper-craft and homemade gifts to knitting and we'll provide how to's for all the different projects, along with printables and patterns.

So come back tomorrow for some crafty Christmas cheer here on the blog.

/Sussi & Annika

NOVEMBER LIGHT

2011-11-29T11:37:00.001+01:00

It's pretty grey outside this time of year, but when the sun comes out, it creates the most amazing color palette. Out walking the other day I snapped these photos, it was late afternoon, and the sun was setting. Everything was so white and clear, with this golden glow, that it made me see textures and materials everywhere, practically begging to be photographed :)

Later this week we are starting our Christmas special. So stay tuned for some cozy crafting and creative days here on the blog.

Happy Tuesday / Annika &Sussi

AUTUMN EQUALS APPLES

2011-11-12T11:56:00.001+01:00

LATE SUMMER BLOOMING

2011-11-12T11:56:00.000+01:00

INSPIRATION & CREATIVE MINDS

2011-11-05T17:05:00.000+01:00

I love coming up with ideas for creative projects. Sometimes I think I like the idea of an idea more than I like the actual finished piece. That does sound a bit strange, but I will try to explain it. To me a creative project is not just about what you get in the end.

The process of an idea, turning it into something useful or a decorative piece, is what really gets me going. Feeling inspired to be creative. It's not necessarily easy to come up with new ideas all time, but you can train the way you go about it.

I like how having an idea challenges you mind; like what materials am I gonna use and can I maybe get the idea from simply looking at materials and textures...things I find, or keep in my drawers? I also think that visualizing the idea, the process and how you want it to look in the end, is a really good way to spark one's workflow.

This series of pictures is all about feeling inspired from material, textures and colors. When I brought home the flowers, I thought I knew what I wanted to do with them, but when I looked at them, I was blank. So I thought; I'm just gonna pull out whatever things and materials I think might be useful and that is going to inspire me.

I have yet to finish this little decoration, but I like how putting these things together, helps form a picture in my head and visualize my goal. Because there's one great thing about finishing a project...and that's when you look at it and realize, that this is exactly what you had in mind

This is of course my way of working, but it's interesting how we all go about this, because everyone is so different. I would love to hear about your creative ways and how you keep inspired.

May you all have a wonderfully creative weekend!

/Annika & Sussi

CANDLES & AUTUMN GREENS

2011-11-02T20:13:00.001+01:00

Green is such a wonderful color. I love how it fit all the seasons and how you can just mix it up with pretty much any color you can imagine. I especially love it with these brown tones. This is an easy table decor and I like how easily I can move it around, if I need to use the table.

Even though I like to decorate, being able to use my things and my furniture has top priority. This table is a good example of serving its purpose well. I currently live in an apartment, where extra room is a luxury, we cant afford :-), and

a while ago my partner and I built this huge table, a perfect table for dinner parties, but we have been using this table for pretty much every thing. Sure it looks awesome when decorated, but I like how we enjoy using this table. It has really become a cherished piece of furniture.

Some time ago I found these big jars, which I use for candles. It gives such a nice glow and interesting shadows, when you keep the candles like that. It also makes beautiful reflections, because of the glass and it looks like you have several candles lit. Super cozy this time a year.

Happy Decorating Everyone!

/Annika & Sussi

CROCHETED PUMPKINS AND AUTUMN WINDS

2011-10-30T09:16:00.002+01:00

We haven't been doing a lot of Halloween decorating here. Halloween is not really celebrated here, as it is in North America. Although the stores are more and more catching on to the trend, it tends to be more about a fun and decorative thing here.

But the other day my sister came over with this bag of fluffy, cute, crocheted pumpkins she'd made and wanted me to photograph them. Of course I wanted it to be in a slightly different environment and since the weather has been very sunny lately, with crisp colors and clear skies,

I thought the beach would be the perfect spot.

So I dragged all the pumpkins and a chair down to the beach, to give this photo shoot a try. But we all know that with beautiful Autumn days, you sometimes get these very cold and brisk Autumn winds. And it was one of those days.

But I was determined to make this work and most of it went really well... until this one situation; I had placed the chair close to the water, with the two bigger pumpkins on the seat, and I was really getting in to my photo mode, when I saw through the lens, how the chair and pumpkins got knocked over by the wind.

For a moment I just stood still and watched the situation unfold...until I realized how fast the wind had made these crocheted pumpkins accelerate over the sand and towards the sea. And my only thought was; how was I ever going to explain to my sister, that the crocheted pumpkins, which she had spent a lot of time making, just suddenly had disappeared and sat sail for greener pastures.

So I sprinted...and my high school memories of the 60 meter race, which I did fairly well back then, came back to me, clear as it was yesterday, and carried me up to a speed, that I don't remember having reached, in any situation, over the last 15 years.

And I won. I tackled those furry pumpkins, rescued them from the cold sea and carried them back to safety, thinking that I probably shouldn't tell my sister about this.
She would never ever, trust me with her creations again :)

May you all have a fun and scary Halloween.

/Annika & Sussi

PUMPKINS AND PINK COLORS

2011-10-22T20:25:00.000+02:00

PALLET WOOD COFFEE TABLE

2011-10-17T22:37:00.000+02:00

It has been an awesome weekend. We have had quite a bit of traffic on the site thanks to Donna from FunkyJunkInteriors. She made a really sweet comment about our blog on her facebook page. Thank you, Donna. (Hurry over and say hello...she makes the most beautiful things out of junk)
At the same time we would like to welcome our new followers and say thanks for all your lovely comments. We are so happy that you'd like to read our blog. We only hope to keep you inspired.

Last week I showed you some pictures of a coffee table my partner was making and this is what the finished piece looks like. I'm so in love with this little table. It's both decorative and functional.

A couple of pictures of the table 'in the making'.

I really liked the color of the table before it was lacquered, and I was a little afraid that it would look very different when finished.

But the color just got more deep and beautiful, and it is now wipe-able. It has even handled me spilling a cup of tea over it, without getting stained :)

Have a great week! / Annika

CROCHET TABLE RUNNER

2011-10-15T08:52:00.004+02:00

Thought I'd show you this crochet table runner I made the other day. It's made from jute string and that might not be the most obvious materiel to use, but it does create contrast and it's always interesting to try out different materials. I also think that decorating with rougher materials suits this season well.

Here are the instructions:

Gauge: Exact gauge is not essential to this project.

You can use yarn and size of hook by your own choice.

For this project I have used needle size 5mm, and a 4-threaded jute string

Chain 26.

Row 1: Dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across - 24 dc.

Rows 2-24: turn, ch 2, dc in each dc across.

Fasten off

Have a creative weekend! /Sussi

Have a look at this great place for more Fall crafts: http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/

AUTUMN BEACH AND RECLAIMED WOOD

2011-10-08T14:28:00.000+02:00

I love living near the beach, but it sometimes can be very harsh and windy when Autumn arrives. Nonetheless does is offer a range of beautiful colors during this season. It's also a great place for exploring materials and structures, which can be used when designing furniture and interiors.

Lately my partner and I have been quite busy making furniture from reclaimed wood. We love finding an odd or beautiful piece of wood and then turning it into something functional. Giving it a new purpose.

In this image collage you can see some shots of a coffee table we made from pallet wood. I just love how it looks like we just found it on the beach. This grayish brown color is a favorite of mine. The table has yet to be lacquered and I will post pictures later of the finished piece.

May you all have a wonderful weekend!
/Annika

FRIDAY INSPIRATION

2011-09-30T11:39:00.000+02:00

OLD WINDOW FRAMING

2011-09-22T09:12:00.001+02:00

Are you starting to feel the Autumn cold yet? Yesterday I went to a market and it had been raining so the ground was all muddy and slippery. It was really one of those typical Scandinavian wet days, but to my surprise it didn't seem to bother people. No, you just put on your rubber boots, a rain coat and some good spirit and it might just as well had been a sunny day. The place was packed with people and it was a Wednesday. I have actually heard rumors about people taking of work to go to this market. I don't think I have ever been to such a large market in the middle of the week before, but an antique dealer told me, that markets used to be held on Wednesdays and not so much on weekends as most are now.

Today I want to show you one of my favorite finds and projects this summer. I bought a pair of old window frames a while ago, with the idea of turning them into picture frames. The glass was intact, except for a small broken corner, so I kept them as they were. Just needed to clean them real well.

I made passe-partout from cardboard to fit the pictures. Since they are old frames, they are a bit crooked and I had to adjust each piece of card-board to each window section. I made paper copies of the pictures, to help me measure and fit the images.

This way I didn't have to involve the originals and get them scratched. I secured the pictures with tape, between the passe-partout and another piece of card-board, to make the images a bit stiffer and more durable. I then taped it on to the backside of the window frame in each section.

Have a great day! / Annika & Sussi

Have a look at this great place for more projects: http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/

PUMPKIN TIME

2011-09-09T15:03:00.000+02:00

Another week has passed and Autumn is getting closer. It's getting colder and I have started to get these cravings for hot drinks all the time, especially chocolate. It's somehow cozier to sit and work, when you have a hot cup of something next to you. Anyway...I like this coming season. I like the fact that, there's so much of natures seeds and fruits, you can use in your decorations during this season. It creates a very earthy and homey feel.

Pumpkins are very Autumn. But so are the colors. The typical green, yellow and orange can be very bright. I like more subtle colors in my home, so these white, creamy colored pumpkins are prefect if you like this style.

The other night I had this dream about a clock, that I would make. So of course I had to try it out and see if I could re-create the image I had in the dream. And this is pretty much how it looked. It has actually become sort of a prototype, because we are thinking of selling these in the store. Do you think we should have this clock in the store?

As you might have read, we are doing some changes to our site, and we are soon gonna move this blog to the precioussister.com site, where we also have our store. That site has been closed for most of 2011, but we are hopefully soon done and things will be up and running again. We will let you know, when we move this blog and there will be links to the new site.

We hope you all have a wonderful weekend. See you next week!

/Annika & Sussi

FRUIT BOWLS

2011-09-03T19:06:00.001+02:00

This post is kind of a continuation of our previous post, since we are still decorating with chrysanthemums. Now don't go thinking that we have become chrysanthemum crazy or anything, it's just that they are so easy to work with and the possibilities seems to be pretty endless with these kind of flowers :)

This is also another way to decorate with flowers. Very casually placed in a bowl, together with some other decorative objects, they make an adorable and somewhat different table decoration or arrangement. It's all about the contrasts.

They are made the same way as the other chrysanthemum decoration, but using a ball shaped piece of flower foam instead.

Since this looks like a fruit bowl, you might want to let people know they are for decoration purpose only and not of the edible kind :)

Have a fabulous weekend. / Annika & Sussi

LASTING FLOWER DECORATION

2011-08-30T11:42:00.000+02:00

Flower decorations are a beautiful addition to an everyday table setting and shouldn't only be limited to parties. But it can sometimes be very expensive to use cut flower and they don't really last as long as potted flowers or plants. However there are some really cute, inexpensive and long lasting cut flowers out there. Chrysanthemum flower are some of the most low maintenance cut flowers around and can easily last for two weeks. They are available in a variety of colors and you can often get them in bunches at your local market.

For this decoration we have used flower-foam, soaked in water, and then cut it to fit the pot/container. Cut flowers of you choice and stick them into the flower-foam, starting from the middle and work you way out. You can always fill in little gaps later on. You can make this decoration last longer if you occasionally water the flower-foam.

Let us know if you have any questions.

Happy project! /Sussi & Annika

EVER FEELING BLUE ON A SUNDAY?

2011-08-23T18:29:00.001+02:00

There's nothing like a good old fair, to spice one's shopping mood. This Sunday we went to Gelsted Market, a yearly market here on Fyn, Denmark. It's one of the good ones, has a really good flea market incorporated, plenty of stalls and you can definitely make some bargains here. We made a few good finds. I bought an old 40's typewriter for only 1,5 euro and Sussi found some beautiful little crystal glasses. The weather was great and it was fun to walk around and take pictures.

Have a great day! /Annika & Sussi

THE LOVE OF GIVING

2011-08-18T16:40:00.001+02:00

I love giving presents and I especially love when they are homemade. I like the idea of putting some of my thoughts and time into making it a bit special. Anyone can go out and buy a gift, but it's something else to receive a present, when you know that someone has sat down and spent time creating it specially for you.

This is actually a fun and rather quickly put together project. A bunch of roses have been placed in an old tin can and you simply decorate the can with a sticker, with any text or image of you choice, either buy some or make them yourself. This way you have a great hostess gift or maybe you need to tell that special someone, just how much you love them.

Have a great Thursday

/Annika & Sussi

CLAY POTS & APOLOGIES

2011-08-16T11:36:00.000+02:00

Hello dear readers, are you still with us ? :)

We hope you're all well and that you have enjoyed the summer. We have had some beautiful days here, but it has certainly also been a very wet summer here in Denmark. Now we are looking forward to some late summer days and hopefully a beautiful Autumn.

We want to apologize for our absence during this summer. Lots of stuff has happened and sometimes you just don't get to do everything as planned. But we have missed posting on our blog and we are excited about getting back to creating some inspiration for you. We also have some changes going on to our website. Hopefully that will soon be done, but we will tell you more about that later.

May you all have a gorgeous Tuesday

/ Annika & Sussi

WEDDING INSPIRATION

2011-05-23T10:58:00.001+02:00

Wedding decoration can be really inspirational. There are so many beautiful sites out there, where you can get great ideas for the home, a dinner party or maybe they'll even spark the idea of redoing your bedroom.
We have a small family wedding coming up and we are researching ideas for table decorations and the bridal bouquet. It's a fun and very enjoyable task :-) Some of our favorite sites are The Wedding Chicks, Grey Likes Weddings and Portobello Bride. What are you favorite wedding sites?

Have a great Monday! /Annika & Sussi

PAUSE GOURMANDE E-MAGAZINE

2011-05-20T21:02:00.000+02:00

Early this spring we were asked by the talented Aurelie, from the gorgeous blog Pause Gourmande en Provence, to contribute to her e-magazine spring edition. The magazine is beautiful and you'll find lots of yummy recipes and great inspiration. So pour yourself a cup of coffee, sit back and enjoy these pages. Thanks Aurelie, for letting us be part of your project. It was really interesting and fun. Have a sunny Thursday! /Annika & Sussi

WAX FLOWERS

2011-05-19T18:52:00.000+02:00

LOVELY SYRINGA COLORS

2011-05-17T17:58:00.001+02:00

Lilacs equals spring to me. The variety of colors they come in are breathtaking and they make such great bouquets and decorations.

It is said that Purple lilac symbolizes "first emotions of love" in the language of flowers. (Wikipedia)

The story of lilac, according to Greek mythology, begins with a beautiful nymph named Syringa (lilac’s botanical name). Captivated by her beauty, Pan, the god of the forests and fields, chased Syringa through the forest. Frightened by Pan’s affections, Syringa escaped him by turning herself into an aromatic bush – the flower we now refer to as lilac. (teleflora.com)

Have a great day! /Sussi & Annika

LITTLE HERB GARDENS

2011-05-11T14:07:00.001+02:00

Is this not a gorgeous time of year or what? I'm loving the contrast of having spent so much time indoor during winter, to this craving for fresh air you get, when spring is finally here....every minute outside seems so precious.

I think a lot of us dream of large vegetable gardens, fresh food on the table every day and preferably home grown. I personally don't have time to do this at the moment, all though I dream of it. So you often make the best of what you have and I just love little low maintenance herb gardens. You can place them pretty much anywhere and they don't have to take up much space.

I used an old fruit crate for this one, a small bag of potting soil, which I made a few holes in, to fit the herbs, and placed the bag of soil into the crate. Quick and easy and I can move it around however I feel like.

Have a great Wednesday! / Annika & Sussi

REMEMBER MOTHER'S DAY

2011-05-05T07:30:00.000+02:00

Spring is a busy season when it comes to flowers. We have been spending quite a lot of time in the flowershop and Sunday this week, is Mother's Day here in Denmark. It's probably the busiest day of the year, when it come comes to flowers, and we are preparing big time. The next couple of days is going to be a nonstop production of bouquets and decorations. Hectic, but fun!

May you have a beautiful day! /Sussi & Annika

FUN GUEST BLOGGING

2011-05-01T10:33:00.000+02:00

A while ago we were asked to guest blog at Svenska Blomsterbloggar. We thought it was a fun and great idea, so we said of course yes to this. Today you can read our guest post on Svenska Blomsterbloggar and see some of the pictures here as well.

Have a beautiful Sunday everyone! /Sussi & Annika

Have a look at Fabriken for more inspiration.

VILD ROSES

2011-04-28T09:33:00.000+02:00

I love to take things out of its usual element and place it in not so common situations or surroundings. It creates contrast and that often helps us to appreciate things more and continue to see them for what they really are.

A rose is often seen as a very contained and elegant flower, mostly associated with decorations, bouquets, flower arrangements, weddings etc. But placing it out of its ordinary environment, the beauty and complexity of this flower will shine through in ways you never thought possible. It will assure you of its character and strengths and tell you that; to possess such elegance and beauty....you have to be a bit wild at heart.

Have a beautiful Thursday! /Annika

EASTER TABLE

2011-04-25T18:22:00.000+02:00

What a weekend! The weather is incredible here. Our Easter Sunday was spent in good company and with great food. Sussi made this gorgeous tablesetting and decoration, and it was perfect. It was a delight to photograph. We made a fire that night and sat outside untill late. It's amazing how warm it was and today might just be even warmer. Feels like July.

I hope you all had a great Easter! Happy Easter Monday to all! /Annika

HAPPY EASTER!

2011-04-22T16:19:00.001+02:00

We want to wish you all a happy easter! Things have been busy here lately and I have been spending quite some time at Sussi's work, helping out with the easter rush. The weather is amazing here, so warm that you hardly believe it's only April.

This weekend we'll be posting some pictures of our Sunday Easter table and Sussi is going to make this gorgeous decoration. I can't wait to take pictures:)

May you all have a fabulous Good Friday! /Annika

EASTER CHOCOLATE

2011-04-19T10:00:00.002+02:00

Easter holiday is no holiday without chocolate. I have made some of my favorite chocolates and shaped them into eggs. This is perfect as a gift, just place in a nice box and wrap with colorful ribbons. Or you can serve it for dessert, together with a strong cup of coffee.

Have a beautiful Tuesday! /Annika

SUNDAY BISCOTTIS

2011-04-17T11:10:00.000+02:00

Yesterday I baked these delicious biscottis and I thought they would make a really cute gift in an old can with ribbon and an easter tag. You can download and print the tags(A4 sheet w. 12 tags) here: Bunny tags

I have always enjoyed biscottis with coffee, but yesterday I learned that traditionally (In Italy) they are dunked in vin santo. I'm looking forward to try them that way.

The recipe is fairly simple:

100 g chopped almonds
75 g pine-nuts
250 g flour
150 g sugar
2 eggs + 1 egg yoke
1/2 tsp vanilla sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Roast almonds on a pan.
Chop pine-nuts and mix with all dry ingredients. Add almonds
Mix in the eggs and combine until you have a smooth dough that can be shaped into 2 cm thick rolls.

Place on oven-tray covered w. paper and press lightly down on the rolls.

Bake for 15 min. in preheated oven at 190 degrees Celsius.

When done, take out the tray and cut the rolls into 2 cm wide pieces.
Turn off oven and place the biscottis in the oven for another 15 min to dry.

Have a beautiful Sunday everyone! /Annika

Have a look at Fabriken for more Sunday inspiration

SENDING SOME EASTER LOVE

2011-04-16T17:53:00.000+02:00

Easter is a perfectly good reason for sending love to someone you care about. This is the second paper project this week and I have made a couple of cards based on my previous bunny illustration. These bunny cards are printable on an A4 and will make 2 cards on each sheet. You can also add a small ribbon and glue/tape to the card.

You can download the cards here: Bunny cards

Have a great Saturday! /Annika

A FEW FAVORITE THINGS

2011-04-14T15:30:00.004+02:00

I get so excited and happy by the most simple things. My sister made this really cute arrangement and used a coffee tin as a pot for these lovely muscari. I think it's a fun and fresh idea. And especially if you like the retro style in your kitchen....this would be really nice.

I love how this little setting just makes me want to take a break. I think everyone should have their own personal coffee tray with a few favorite things...fresh flowers, chocolate, a magazine and you favorite mug.

Have a great Thursday! /Annika

EASTER BUNNY BAG

2011-04-13T17:59:00.000+02:00

As we mentioned yesterday, we have a few easter projects for you this week. Today I have put together a template, that you can print and cut out, and fold into a small bag. You can fill it with sweets, homemade chocolate eggs or have your kid fill it with something she can give to friend.

The template is an A4(or make it A3 if you like). When printed, cut along the box and grey lines. Afterwards score the white lines, fold the box and glue/tape together. Punch a hole for a piece of ribbon. The template can be found here: Easter Bunny Box

Happy project! /Annika

COLORFUL COFFEE BREAKS

2011-04-12T11:18:00.000+02:00

The weather has been insanely gorgeous the last couple of days and I crab every opportunity available, to be outside preparing the garden and enjoying the sun. This weekend I have been making a couple of trays with a bit of easter feel. It's just a mix of spring flora, some bark, moss, a pot and a couple of eggs. Everything just randomly put together.

I love how a simple decoration like this on the garden table light up the deck and how that cup of afternoon coffee just taste so much better, when there are flowers on the table to enjoy as well.

Have a great Tuesday! /Sussi

p.s. we will be posting a few easter projects this week, so stay tuned :)

Have a look at Fabriken for more great Tuesday inspiration.

OLIVE TREE

2011-04-11T21:08:00.001+02:00

SUNDAY INSPIRATION

2011-04-10T20:19:00.000+02:00

The weather is beautiful here this weekend and we are trying to be outside as much ass possible. Easter is getting closer and today I'm showing you a quick little decoration that will make a perfect hostess gift. Use cut flowers of your choice and stick them into a piece of flower foam. Cover the foam with plastic and place it in your nest/container. Add a small figur or some eggs for decoration. Have a beautiful Sunday! /Annika

Have a look at Fabriken for more Sunday inspiration.

NOTE SHEET PAPER CRATE

2011-04-09T16:01:00.000+02:00

It's always fun to find potential in things you have laying around. I have been storing all our weekly newspapers and advertisements in a fruit crate, but I had grown tired from its look and wanted to give it a makeover. Since I'm very fond of note sheet paper, I decided to cover it with that. I used a simple decoupage technique and just cut pieces of paper and glued them to the crate.

It's an easy project and you can apply this technique to any wood surface and it will look great. Allthough the crate was meant for all the newspapers, I have been storing my alpaca yarn in it. The colors looks so great together :) Have a great Friday! /Sussi

WRAP SOME LOVE

2011-04-07T11:40:00.000+02:00

I like giving gifts. It makes me happy to surprise someone with something unexpected. It can sometimes be difficult to choose or come up with a great idea for a gift, but often less is more. You can go out into your garden, collect a few flowers, wrap them in simple brown paper and some gorgeous ribbon, and you have turned your organic homegrown flowers into an expensive looking bouquet...filled with more love and care than any random flower from a store ever will contain. It will never be about the amount of money you spend, but the thought behind and the effort you have put into it. So go out and wrap some love in a simple piece of brown paper, and surprise someone you hold dear. Have a beautiful day! /Annika

WEDNESDAY NESTING

2011-04-06T16:45:00.000+02:00

Do you ever get creative ideas when you dream? Well, I do and the other day I woke up, having dreamed about a flower nest made from Gypsophila or also called Baby's Breath, with some eggs and small flowers in the middle. I don't know whether this was a symbolic dream or if it needs any pondering...except it's always inspiring to wake up in the morning with creative ideas.
This small decoration will last a long time, since Gypsophila is quite beautiful, when it's dried too and you can occasionally change the flowers in the eggs for another color or fresher look. Have a great day! /Annika

MONDAY FLOWERS

2011-04-04T17:15:00.000+02:00

Hello dear readers! Hope you're all well? I'd like to apologize for our very sparse posting over the last week. Things has been a bit busy around here and sometimes life just takes over :-). I'm pretty sure you know how that feels.

Today I just wanted to post a few pictures of a really cute decoration. A simple viola in a small glass/jar, where the roots are visible, is very decorative. You can add some moss and an egg to create a bit of easter feel.

My grandmother loved violas and when I was a kid she used to tell me, that you could see a little queen sitting in the middle of the flower and that the petals were her stupendous colorful dress. So every time I see a viola, I'm reminded of my grandmother and her love for flowers. It's a beautiful way to remember a person. Have a wonderful Monday! /Annika

Easter Decoration

2011-03-27T14:11:00.001+02:00

I love working with natural materials and after having moved to our new house last summer, with a garden that is filled with lovely trees and bushes, I can just take a step outside, and I'll find an enormous amount of inspiration right in front of me. We were told that the previous owners planted 25 different kind of trees here.

This decoration is suited for both in- and outdoor. Use it as a centerpiece for Easter-Lunch or place it outside, where it will stay a beautiful decoration for a long time, when it´s still cold outside (even though the tulips are without water). The plate is made out of birch branches. Form a ring from the branches, and secure with wire. Add branches untill you get the size you want. Leave the tulips without water for a couple of hours, that will make it easier to bend them, and secure them with wire. Finish the decoration by placing eggs in different colours and sizes in the middle.

Have a wonderful Sunday /Sussi

Have a look at Fabriken for Sunday inspiration

RIBBONS & ROSES

2011-03-24T18:17:00.001+01:00

I think we all have a few favorite things, we buy again and again for now apparent reason other than it just makes us happy. To me it's roses and ribbons. I never get tired of these things and it's some of my preferred objects for photographing as well. Maybe it's because I subconsciously know that they will look good in a picture and that's why I feel drawn to them? Or maybe it's just something that makes me happy! And I love that feeling....of being happy.... surrounding myself with things that makes me happy. Even though one of them might be as simple as a piece of ribbon. This has been a beautiful day, besides from the ribbon & roses:) I hope yours was too! /Annika

WEDNESDAY CAKE URGES!

2011-03-23T13:32:00.001+01:00

The weather has been so great the last couple of days and every coffee break has just been an excuse to go sit outside and feel the sun on your face. Don't know whether it was because of too much sun, or the need for another coffee break, but we got this crazy urge for cake this morning...and I had this picture in my head of a swiss roll with berries. Half an hour later the coffee was poured and the cake was served. Just love those impulsive crazy days :) Have a beautiful day! /Annika

SPRING IN A POT

2011-03-22T18:00:00.000+01:00

This flower pot is one of my favorite choices, for when I make flower arrangement. Like a lot of my stuff, this one is also found at a flea market. The seller had left the pot outside for a long time, so he was surprised that he was able to sell it. But to me it was just perfect :-) Of course I hardly had to pay anything for it.

The arrangement is made out of Muscari and Viola in a wonderful mix, some mos, small pieces of bark and some branches. Have a nice Tuesday :-) /Sussi

MUSCARI CENTERPIECE

2011-03-19T15:28:00.000+01:00

As I mentioned the other day, Sussi was going to make this beautiful spring decoration. We are having a birthday party today, so the decoration is made as a centerpiece.

You can make this with pretty much any cut flower of your choice. The flowers are stuck into a piece of flower foam. The bark is functioning as the vase/container and the foam is covered with brown sand and some moss. This is a fairly easy project with lots of room for creative ideas. Have a great Saturday! /Annika

FINDING SPRING

2011-03-17T10:49:00.000+01:00

It doesn't take much to make me happy. A camera and mission and I'm happy as a peach. And today's morning mission was all about finding spring, so I went to dig between rotten leaves and mud, and found these beauties. I know you can all buy these in the store, but it's a speciel feeling watching them unfold in an organic inviroment. Have a beautiful day...I'm sending spring wiffings you way! /Annika

By the way, my sister is going to make this exiting Spring decoration on Saturday and I can't wait to photograph it :) Don't forget to stop by, you are gonna want to make it at home too.

p.s. Welcome to our new followers, it's always great to see new faces. Can't wait to have a look at your blogs:)

SPREAD THE BLOG LOVE II

2011-03-16T10:03:00.001+01:00

Last week we where honored with The Gorgeous Blogger award from Smulan, on her beautiful blog Under Mammas Vingar. This blog is a favorite of ours, so you can imagine how happy we felt.

She had this to say about us (it's in Swedish):

"det har ännu inte kommit en dag som jag inte förundras över er mästerlighet. Annika, dina texter har inte bara en gång utan flera gånger inspirerat min vardag. " It´s like having an endless palett of inspiration"...det är kanske en utav de mest fina meningar jag läst under mina jordsnurr hittills.Om ni skulle göra en bok, så skulle jag säkerligen köpa den. Kreativt, fantastifullt och vackert...Ni har nånting alldeles eget och unikt, och jag gillar eran sång. Och hur jag önskade att få ha en sån blombukett på bordet och en bok med era bilder och text som du har skrivit Annika. Ni gör ett fantastiskt jobb! "

That we felt speechless after these beautiful words, well it would be a slight understatement. We do what we love and that in itself is a great privilege, but when someone comes along and recognizes this and feel touched by it, you can't really ask for more. So, Smulan....thank you so much!

We'll pass this on to five gorgeous bloggers and answer the five questions that follows this award:

1. When did you start blogging?

We started our blog in November 2010. So she is still a baby :)

2. What's your blog about?

Well, we love to be creative and we aim to create inspiration for the home here. It can be an image of something we think is beautiful, a project, or a 'how to' on a flower decoration.

3. What makes your blog special?

One of our goals is to produce as much content ourself as possible. Don't know if that is particularly special, but it's what makes our blog ours.

4. What got you into blogging?

It's a wonderful thing to be able to inspire other people and we thought this was a fun and interesting way to do it.

5. What would you like to change in your blog?

We actually have quite a few changes planned during the next couple of months. We do believe that a blog should be very friendly and we are going to work on that. Then we have a small shop we need to integrate with the blog and we want an inspiration section as well. When we are done with all of that, we have probably come up with a few more things that can be done, as this is the way things work around here. A project is seldom finished before another one starts:)

We now pass this award on and present to you some of our favorite blogs:
Have a beautiful day! /Annika & Sussi

http://www.pausegourmande-enprovence.com/

This is a beautiful French food blog by talented Aurelie. Her pictures are dreamlike and so inspiring. Everything just looks so yummy and there is such a feeling of quality and "homemade" behind everything she creates. Don't forget to visit her tumble archive, where you get an overview of all her amazing photos.

http://dentellesoxydees.canalblog.com/

The art of Aurelia is amazing. She works with screen printing, transfer, embroidery, collage, painting ...well you name it. Her talent seems endless and her creations are so detailed and beautiful....so much inspiration is found here.

http://theswenglishhome.blogspot.com/

This is a beautiful garden and interior blog by Swedish Helena, who resides in England. She has such a feel for beautiful spaces and little garden corners and illustrates them all with amazing and gorgeous photos. If you like flowers or need inspiration for your home and garden, this is definitely the place to visit.

http://villakoenig.blogspot.com/

Yvonne is the creative talent of this place. You'll find so much inspiration here and her photos are sure to make you swoon. She also has a beautiful shop with gorgeous vintage finds.

http://g-style-g-style.blogspot.com/

G is for Gea and style is what her blog is all about. You'll find beautiful things and inspiration here. Her feel for interior and styling is gorgeous. She recently made a book with pictures of her home. Just stunning. Don't forget to visit her shop as well.

WOOD CRATES AND BOOKS

2011-03-15T17:24:00.000+01:00

Being a huge fan of graphic art and photography, I of course love books with lots of imagery and great layout. Often a huge amount of time and devotion have been put into making a book, they are like pieces of art, and I therefor like to keep and present them in ways where I can see and be inspired by them. Wood-crates are a really cool solution for this and I can rearrange them for different purposes. They are excellent for shelving and function very well as small bookcases or as magazine cases. Have a fine day! /Annika

Visit Fabriken for more great bookcases.

GIVE AWAY A SMILE

2011-03-13T11:50:00.000+01:00

This past week has been a beautiful one. So much blog love has been spread and we really love how inspired we have felt, not just creatively, but life wise as well. And this is an amazing thing, to feel inspired and enjoy every little thing or gesture that may come your way. But it's not just about being inspired, we also think the feeling of being able to inspire someone else or put a smile on their face, it greatly underestimated. It is probably one of the greatest gestures you can make...give away a smile. In what ever way that may be, it is worth everything because it stays with the receiver. It can be a small phrase, a comment, a look, a funny picture on the internet or maybe a story...everything we send out there has an impact on someone else.

So we would like to say thank you for giving us all the smiles you do. We only hope that we occasionally put a smile on your faces as well. Have a beautiful Sunday! /Sussi & Annika

Have a look at Fabriken for Sunday inspiration

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRECIOUS SISTER!

2011-03-11T05:00:00.003+01:00

I think all of you, who are blessed with a sister, knows how wonderful it is to share your life with someone, that loves you so unconditionally as only a sister can do. In my case, I also have the privilege of my sister being my best friend, which I certainly cannot take for granted...so I want to thank her for that on this special day:

This is for you, Sussi!

We have have shared so much through the years, both sad and beautiful moments, and sometimes I wonder what happened to them all? Seems like they are so far away, like we just passed through them like a breeze. But when I think about it, I realize that they are just in front of me. All of these moments are you and me and what we share this present day. It's the very thing that connects us and binds our life together and I'm forever grateful for this. So I want to thank you, for being my big sister, my best friend, my business partner....and simply for being in my life. You mean the world to me!

Have a beautiful happy birthday! Hugs Annika

SPREAD THE BLOG LOVE!

2011-03-09T09:57:00.000+01:00

This last weekend we were honored with a Liebster Blog Award from Ilona, with the blog Tierlantijn. This was a great suprised and since we are huge fans of her beautiful blog and work, it felt a bit special too. Thank you so much Ilona

The purpose of the Liebster Award is to bring new blogs to light and give some extra attention to novice bloggers. It's a great way to share some blog love for each other.

We will now pass this thoughtful award to three other blogs, that we love and think deserves a great amout of attention:

First award is for Under mammas vingar. This is the beautiful blog of Smulan, who will dazzle you with amazing photos every time you stop by. She is also a great writer and her inspiring thoughts will stay with you throughout the day.....this place just oozes life.

The second award goes to Dom with the blog l'art de la Curiosite. This is a beautiful blog and the creative stream is so inspiring. You'll find great paper craft projects and ideas here, but make sure you also visit her gorgeous tumblr archive.

The third award is for Malin over at Live A Lot. She is a great jewelery designer and you will always feel inspired and happy by her pictures and thoughts. Don't forget to browse through her jewelery collection.

Have a beautiful Wednesday! /Annika & Sussi

WOOD TEXTURES AND FLOORS

2011-03-08T14:48:00.002+01:00

I love wooden floors. It adds a natural and fresh style to a house. I also think it's kind of charming with older floorboards that sing, when you walk on them.

As a graphic artist you work a lot with textures and I often photograph things or materials in ways that I can later use as textures. I have with time acquired quite an extensive collection of textures and one of my favorite materials are wood. I never get tired of this versatile and organic material. Wood is also excellent as backgrounds for photography and I like to use the floor instead of a table, when photographing. This also gives me a lot of space to work on. Have a great day! /Annika

Have a look at Fabriken for more floor inspiration.

INSPIRATIONAL PLACES TO TURN TO

2011-03-06T09:43:00.000+01:00

I actually wanted to post this yesterday, but we had to go shopping at Ikea for things for our almost finished office. And the day just flew by, so I thought it would make for a bit of Sunday inspiration instead.

I photograph pretty much every day and I don't think I would be the same without it. I remember when I first started out and how it taught me to see things very differently. How it very much opened my eyes to the details around me and the beauty of simplicity. I began to see light everywhere and learned how it changes throughout the day. How it bounces of surrounding things and materials, how certain colors absorb light better than others and how some are more beautiful in the shade. I'm pretty convinced it has made me a better person and helps me appreciate the beauty of life, despite all the suffering and cruelty out there, and that it always gives me an encouraging and inspirational place to turn to. All this makes me very grateful. Have a wonderful Sunday! /Annika

Have a look at Fabriken for more Sunday inspiration.

CATCHING A PERFECT MOMENT

2011-03-04T19:40:00.002+01:00

It has been a beautiful afternoon here on Fyn, Denmark. The sun was setting and got to snap a few photos (I'll show you a series tomorrow) with amazing light and colors. This tulip picture is one of them and for you photography enthusiasts, I think you all know what the feeling is like, when you take a picture and it doesn't need any post-processing. To catch THE perfect moment. To me it's one of the most treasured aspects of photography, not always easily achieved, but when able to compose that perfect image, with a flawless light, and knowing, when you later publish that image, that this is exactly what that moment looked like...Well, it's a beautiful thing.

I know there's a lot of programs out there, that easily can make any picture look good and maybe it's just beacuse of that, that this means so much to me. But what I really enjoy knowing is, that I have put all my effort and presence into that one picture and that's what the image reflects. Have a great evening! See you tomorrow! /Annika

INSPIRATIONAL CUPBOARD

2011-03-03T11:30:00.000+01:00

My sister has this beautiful cupboard where she stores different found objects. She calls it her inspirational cupboard. There's a lot of old ribbons, books, old notesheets and magazines. Recently we bought a few old records, because of their beautiful covers, and they also went into the cupboard. It's always nice to be able to look at your things and find inspiration instead of burying everything in drawers. Dedicating a cupboard to all those things you don't necessarily want laying around, means that you don't have to move it and it doesn't have to look perfect all the time. Have a great Thursday! /Annika

CLOSETS WITH HISTORY

2011-03-01T12:25:00.001+01:00

When you move into an older house, the built in closets are often in a very bad shape and the style might not be the most likable. But when I first saw these shutter doors, in our recently bought house, I was in love. They are gorgeous and they just add a lot of charm to the bedroom. So there was not much arguing, when deciding to keep this beautiful old closet. I have later learned from previous owners of the house, that it is a custom built closet along with some other details around the house. I think it's interesting and life confirming to have a piece of history in your house, to know that someone else also once loved and had visions and dreams about this house. Have a beautiful Tuesday! /Sussi

Have a look at Fabriken for more great closets.

PONCHO LAMP

2011-02-28T16:57:00.000+01:00

This lamp is a small project I finished a couple of weeks ago and now it's finally hanging above the coffee table. It's a project inspired by a great idea we came across a while back, when reading one of our favorite blogs...Under Mammas Vingar. It's the blog of Smulan, a very talented blogger and photographer and I do encourage you all to visit her beautiful and inspiring site.

The lamp is made of flea market finds, an old lampshade and a great, fluffy, white poncho. It was like a match made in heaven. Didn't even have to cut of the fabric, except for some minor adjustments at the bottom. The poncho has been attached by folding the edge around the lampshade and then stitched with a sewing-machine. Have a great Monday! /Sussi

TULIP DECORATION

2011-02-26T14:41:00.000+01:00

This decoration will work wonder as a hostess gift and instead of the typical bouquet.

MATERIALS:

20 tulips (depends on the size of you pot)

Flora foam
Twine/string

Flower wire or pins,

A pot (we choose an oval pot 25 x 13 cm)

Salal (or green leaves of your choice)

Moss (any kind will do, this one is a silver moss)

HOW TO:

Soak the flower foam well in water and cut it to fit the shape of the pot.

Strip the tulips for leaves and cut the stem about 5 cm from the head. Roll some of the stripped leaves and secure with pins or wire. Start by placing a couple of salal on each side of the pot in the foam. Then randomly place out the tulips and the rolled leaves as you like. Take the moss and fill in the gaps. Make a bow from the string and secure with a pin on either side of the decoration and Voila! You're done!

Have a creative Saturday! /Sussi

LOVELY MUSCARI

2011-02-25T12:12:00.000+01:00

Muscari have the most lovely blue color. They are sure to spread some early spring feeling and will easily last a week or two indoor. They are easy to plant, don't need much water and if you decorate with a bit of moss and twigs...it will look like a forest bottom.
Tomorrow we will post a 'how to' on a really cute tulip decoration. So stay tuned! Have a great Friday! /Annika

SPRING WHIFFINGS

2011-02-24T17:51:00.000+01:00

I went to work with my sister today, to photograph some of all the flowery creations she makes. It's always fun to watch her work and to help out, but it's really hard walking amongst all these flowers and whiffs of spring and not wanting it to be April already. It has been so cold here the last couple of weeks and all this greenery just make you want to sit on a park bench, take of your shoes, drink a cup of cocoa and enjoy an early spring sun and the promises of warmer months to come. /Annika

IF ONLY THESE PAGES COULD SPEAK

2011-02-23T16:02:00.000+01:00

I love old books. Not so much because I like to read them all, but I feel that the book itself carry these stories of a more and more lost age. There are so much detail in the way it has been made and how they represent an non digitalized era. Some of the books uses fonts I can barely read, but they look so elegant and they make promises of a story worth reading. A torn binding can reveal a beautiful, old piece of paper, like it was a little hidden secret. They bear marks of all the people who have read and enjoyed the book and I wonder what stories it would tell, if only its pages could speak. Have a beautiful day! /Annika