I have just come back from a haircut the local hairdresser's. My hairdresser said, when being asked about how she celebrates Christmas, that she doesn't celebrate Christmas. For her it is too overwhelming with too many expectations. She said she'd rather go skiing in Austria, than celebrate Christmas.

I think a lot of us feel overwhelmed at Christmas. The amount of things that we need to process; things need to be done and need to be taken care of. What to buy, get, bring, take! What to wear, what to eat, where to go and whom with?!
I think things would be a lot easier if we would stop measuring ourselves by the standard and start measuring ourselves by our own Truth. Is this really how I want Christmas to be!? If we don't listen, Christmas can be a whirlwind, that leaves us longing for a peaceful holiday when it is finally over!

That's why I like solstice so much. Solstice is upon us now. This year the actual solstice, the longest night and the shortest day falls in Europe on the night between Sunday 21st and Monday 22nd.

I am celebrating it tonight with friends. Even just saying that out loud makes me joyful, happy, free. This is my first year you see, being a facilitator; a keeper of solstice council. I feel honoured and grateful.

At solstice there are no must do's or don't's. All you have to do is show up. Show up for yourself. And the Universe. (And that is pretty strong and enough!). With your presence you say "I am here".
It's like showing up for a meeting in class, in school, at work - anywhere. You show up. You tell your story. You listen to the others. You decide what to do from now on and what didn't work this year! This is exactly what solstice is all about! Showing up, and telling your story.

Sometimes we can't show up. For many reasons we forget or put it last. Especially if we feel a lack of energy and feel overwhelmed. Sometimes we feel we don't have the power to show up.

A few years back I was on a shamanic workshop in Ireland, called Peace and Power. And I was ill the whole time I was there! Between classes and when we were not eating, I was asleep. The whole of the 6 days. I never met anyone or connected with anyone outside the circle. But I showed up for every class. I listened. I did the work. I came home and it was a very powerful experience for me, with some very deep teachings about peace and power in my life. I wouldn't have missed it for the world and it helped me see things clearer.




When we ask for help the Universe, the Spirits are there to help us. When we ask for guidance, when we chose to let go -- the Spirits are there, witnessing and seeing us. Always. Even when there are no one else around, Spirit sees us, Spirit walks with us through our life, witnessing our journey, our story.

There are times when I feel disconnected from Spirit, I feel alone. I feel like I am not doing what I should be doing, I am not telling my truth. But Spirit is there behind the veil anyway. They have not abandoned us, they are still listening. When I stand up, speak up, show up, I see that the Spirits were there all the time. Guiding me, though I wasn't listening and paying attention.

And so showing up for Winter Solstice -- at this the darkest of times -- is so brave and honest and true for me. Showing that I am here! I am listening, I am available and open; it's sooo valuable. So valuable.

And all we have to do is show up.

So when we feel stressful and too busy around Christmas, and try to fit in the box and do what we think everybody else wants us to do, it is time to PAUSE. Stop! And show up for yourself. Show up for your truth. Connect with a deeper truth, a more valuable truth, A PERSONAL TRUTH. The frame that we stretch ourselves around can be too big, wrong size or just uncomfortable. Let's throw that frame away, and see what we really need this Christmas! 

What is ONE thing that YOU can change RIGHT NOW, that will give you a little more space, a little more peace, and more of YOU this holiday season? 

Remember, this is the HOLY days season. So what IS holy? Is it gifts or presents, food or family - and what ever it is; HOW can I treat it as sacred and holy? How can I allow sacredness into my Christmas and make it MY Christmas and my kind of holy?

For me, sacred and holy means visiting the most beautiful and cozy Christmas market I know - with the one I love! It's celebrating my mother's absolute wonderful and heartfelt cooked food. It's about seeing my family - listening to their stories, and really being present! All these things are holy for me. Because being present and showing up for life IS holy. Is sacred. Life is sacred - just as it is. And listening, paying attention, participating.
But it is also about napping. Making sure I get enough rest. To calm myself down by listening to the darkness in my sleep, wrapping myself with her warm winter cloak of Darkness, that will allow me to sink even deeper into the mystery and the mystery of my own heartbeat, my own truth.

And YES! There are a number of things that I am saying NO to this Christmas. NO because it isn't giving me peace, joy and caring for the sacred.
Some of these things are very close to my heart; family, friends that I cannot see all though I would looove to (if only the Christmas season lasted 100 days!). Places I would love to see - if! - I had the money, the time, the presence! When the calendar is too booked, the heart is easily overwhelmed and struggles to take in all the planning and arranging. And so it is better for me to have good things AND time to really enjoy them.

Who I am - is who I am - and it is Beautiful! I do not need to be more than who I am. Say more than what I can. I don't have to allow myself to become angry, stressful, empty and powerless over Christmas. I can change the world. By changing my own backyard.
So again I will ask you; What is ONE thing that YOU can change RIGHT NOW, that will give you a little more space, a little more peace, and more of YOU this holiday season? And if you don't know: Pray! And if you don't know how to pray: show up for yourself!

All you have to do, is show up.

I wish you a merry, merry Christmas. And a beautiful, caring and loving 2015.

May your power shine through as the brightest, clearest light through-out the whole of 2015. May Peace be within you and outside you. May your journey be full of hopes, dreams, adventures and beautiful starry skies and wonderful caring beings.

May love shine on your path.

With Love and surrender, 

Lone

Morning tide. And the thoughts awaken. So much to do, things to get ready. I start to feel my head buzzing. My body is alert. Too much to do.

Yesterday I watched a video about nutrition. I really don't get that the guy says "start off with fruit first thing in the morning". For me that's like pushing sugar straight into my veins from the early beginning of the day. I enjoy my eggs. And a carrot. I like carrots. They keep me healthy.

I made illustrations for Marie's blog. She is a dietitian so she knows a lot about food and how we react to it. She helps women, especially women with PCO, to find a balance in their diet. To lose weight and to be more aware of what we are eating.

I like that. Especially with Christmas coming up.

I use to give my self much more carte blanche to whatever I wanted to eat for Christmas. And it's not like I am holding back now. But things have changed. I no longer enjoy food the same way I did. Or let me say I enjoy the richness of the food much more than the quantity.

The thing is, lately I've been going really deep into the pattern about things. Feeling them through. There is so much suffering. So much imbalance in our world. We have to be the balance. We must do that for ourselves; find a lifestyle that is in balance.

What IS balance? We have heard the word before, but what does it mean to be in balance?

To me, being in balance means waking in the morning and be full of energy. Not worry to much about the past or the future. Being in balance means to respond with kindness, with openness and with a clear intention. Being in balance means respecting the world; people, nature, around me AND be exactly who I am. To speak my truth. To step forward if I need to. To stand back when I need it. Being in balance means being healthy and carrying healthy thoughts and agendas. To be that kindness. To be that love that can embrace. But also to be that person to say no. Who knows her resources and is not some kind of saint but a real person. Someone to say enough.
Or no.
Or not right now.
Or not at all.

To really honour that soul that I am - so I can get much more joy, kindness and sacredness into my life.
Each person is different. And we all need different things to make our life feel rich. What does being in balance mean to you?, if I may ask. :-)

When I look outside, nature is in balance.  Her change is constant AND in balance. I am much more worried about people! Do we really know what ignites us? Do we understand who we are? Do we know what we need, I mean, are we aware of it?!

Everything starts with awareness. There is a natural balance inside us, a natural way of life, so powerful and present that we were born with it, and we will die in it. This knowledge, this knowing of Everything's Flow. We know it. It lives inside us. It is us!

But can we silence the voices and hear it, and grasp a little of it's sunshine?

Blessed day, lovely. Blessed day.

Just feel like connecting with you through this video about what I feel to be some life changing thoughts here at the studio. More to come, as this is a passionate subject! ;-)

Also, have you seen the updates on my website? I decided to show my True Colours ;) Enjoy fully!

PS; Did you also notice the wonderful, colourful and beautifully FUN flags behind me in the video?! They are personally crocheted (hæklet!) by Gitte at Rav og Krat for me! Thank You, GITTE!!! I LOVE THEM and you are a STAR! THANKS! (Look how well they look on camera ;) ! Ha ha.

Yes! Let's be creative!

Making an illustration is in many ways similar to going on a shamanic journey; I have an idea about where I'm going but what happens when I draw, only time will tell. Magic unfolds; characters appear, they want to be in the picture. I am excited because I don't know what happens next! What will appear suddenly in a minute!? I laugh! A cat! Hah! It is so funny and whimsical.

With this years' Christmas card I wanted to show a certain madness of cozy "hygge" time. The scene is set in a cozy cottage with the two main figures going beserk over creating christmas decorations! Magic happens when we just let go and let ourselves be creative. I find that the winter and especially Christmas time is perfect for that.

A Scandinavian childhood

I have friends who live in south and in north of Sweden and when I made the scenery for outside the window, I thought about these warm homes and the view from their windows. I like round carpets like the one under the table. I also had a round carpet under the Christmas tree. I recall this tradition from my Christmases in Denmark.
I know the feeling I want to create with my card. It comes from childhood books and illustrations of Nordic landscapes and indoor life. I think people from all over Scandinavia recognize this feeling. That part of me is familiar, where I grew up and had my Christmases as a child. It is this familiarity that I try to explain in this year's Christmas artwork. The windows are familiar, the chairs, the people. That's what I want to give with my art: a familiar cozy welcome-ness.

How did I make the illustration? 

First I draw what's in the centre of the picture where all the action happens from. In this case it was a round table. Everything else is added on from there.
I have 2 main sketches of the scene; one in my head and one on paper, and together they create the final image. But I don't know everything. I often ask the picture itself what it wants to do next when I am stuck.
It takes two full days to create a detailed illustration such as this one. I don't worry too much about being correct in my lines, but I want the viewer to be able to understand what is happening in the picture even though it's busy.
I like to draw things that are a little impossible. That gets the imagination going. When you draw you can make up solutions that wouldn't work in reality. And it makes it even more fun!


I hope you enjoy the cards! I wish you a joyous wonder-full Christmas!

With love,

MOON AND ME

Taking the time
To Calm Down
To Watch The Moon
Behind her veil

Dangling from a World Beyond
Watching the World
Go by


---

I am being asked by the Universe to Sing the Song of me.

At this time I am working on formulating and sending out my December newsletter.

This time it is really extremely difficult!

What I have to do in this newsletter, which is SO different to all the other newsletters I have sent out over time (around 8 years now!) is to let my old clients know, that EVERYTHING is CHANGING at The Sunshine Studio.

It is not even going to be a Sunshine Studio anymore.

It's not going to be anything I know. It is going to be New.


My fear is big. It really is BIG. I am wriggling, holding, stopping. Pressing. I am scared! I am really scared!!! I am on the bridge now looking down - and it's a bloody long way down, I tell you that!


I am making these changes to OPEN UP. I want to express Who I Am and tell people what they are getting. I don't want to feel like I can't post or share or write what I like, because once upon a time I promised somebody something, that no longer works for me. I want to give EVERYBODY the opportunity to get what they need from my studio. If they think they are getting something else, well I want to tell them what my studio is about. What you are getting is me - and now you know!


But what is me? Well, I don't know. I am journey to find out. I know it's spiritual. I know it's deep. And it is changing all the time.



I googled "ship in stormy water" and found this. Yep, this is me right now flipping around! Aaaaaarrrhr!!! I can't find the shore but I am heading out on a journey. And the journey is the most important thing, and what I have to do! Thank You!

I find that the darker months are really magical and especially call for lighting candles. I like creating my own. A very special candle with my own powerful message on. Share the love and give it to a friend.
These are some ideas for your candle:

I am thinking of you
I believe in you
Time to rest
I know you
Let it go
I am OK


All these beautiful messages out there in the world for us. Take the one that gives you most peace, power or that feels most comfortable. It will do you good!

All you need is a felt tip pen (sprit tusch in Danish), or if you like, colours. Black is fine! Write, draw, create. Make it special and every time you light it, know that spirit is working with you. You are seen. You are heard!


This was the first photo I put up on Instagram from December last year. It is a candle saying "Everything you do matters". I created it at a time I was feeling stuck and I couldn't see my way. When I lit it, it reminded me of a deeper truth and the bigger picture, and that made me feel more at ease with my situation.

I need you to see me. I need you to hear me.

In this video I let go of the old name for my business; The Sunshine Studio. And I take the first step on a new an unknown path. Into my creativity. Into my art. I am open and I am honest.

I talk about my journey with The Sunshine Studio, from graduation two years ago, to a life as a full time artist in France. A process of naming my products and goals but also closing a chapter and letting New Life begin.

This video is a threshold that separates what I was from what I am.
This is what I am. This is me. Thank you.

I AM

Even if the only word you -ever- spoke was "Hi" or "Hello", coming from this place it would be the most magnificent truthful, powerful thing you could ever do.

We live our lives, afraid of who we are, afraid of what we might say. We cover ourselves up. We cover up the Truth. We think (we think!) we have to be someone we're not. We think we have to do something that is not within us to do. We push ourselves to the limit and we go mad! We grow insecure, painful and we feel lost. Because we have lost that connection to what is. What is true. Not the connection to other people (well, that too), but the connection to ourselves! We haven't spoken the truth in so long we forget what it sounds like! I have been on workshops where just telling the truth was all the work was about! When people started to tell their truth - their most inner, sacred, powerful truth - the room just exploded! People could no longer hold back who they are, they were letting go! I was letting go! We were all letting go. And within minutes, seconds we felt lighter. We could laugh more. Be more. Dare more! We could speak our truth without feeling hurt. We were heard.


So many of us WAIT. We wait to be asked! We wait for someone else to ask us, ask us to please share our truth. We want to be allowed by somebody else to be ourselves, to express ourselves. We need permission! But we already have that permission - all of us! We have the permission to be ourselves - to speak our truth! We are that person, I am that person that must give the allowance, that grant that permission! I alone can do it. Not you. Not anyone else. I can do that work - I can speak my truth!

And so we are back at the beginning. I am the first person to admit that I want to be great. I want to do great things - hey, I wanna change the world! I want to have something to show for myself. A portfolio. A website. Something that people can see, something their can hear. Something they can judge (yes, let's face it, judge) and say "Wow. That's what you've done! I can see that. I hear you". But what I want, really, is the last part! The I hear you part. I acknowledge you. And so in my tiny, cute little head that "I can hear you. I see you!" (as in a deeper seeing - I acknowledge your presence) becomes "I have to produce something for other people to see. So that they can see me!". But this is where it all goes pear shaped. Wrong! No. No I don't.

Even if the only word you -ever- spoke was "Hi" or "Hello" if that word came from a place so deep in you, of trust and pure honesty and raw power - that word - that tiny word - would change the world.

I HAVE to to tell The Truth. I must! How else can we LEARN from each other, LOVE each other and HONOUR each other?! If we dare not speak the Truth, how can we KNOW one another? How can I see you? How can you see me?

Artwork by Victor Curran.

I AM trying to find out what it is I am meant to be doing.

I am trying to find my feet.

I am discovering a New Way to live.

I am brave and solid.

I am not alone.
I am with friends.
I am in great company.

my work is mine alone and I share with everyone.

I am thankful.
I am blessed.

I am here.

I am not holding back my truth

I speak with power and wisdom. And great care for the planet.

I speak of love for the Earth.

I give voice to the center. That which we cannot keep
and must speak

I am powerful
I am strong

I am clear.

I am traveling to unknown lands.
I am discovering new territory
I am free of the past
I have no future

I am love

I am care taking.

Thank you HOUSE! Thank you for bringing so much GOOD into my Life! Thank You! for being my safe zone, my peaceful spot, my place of deep rest and sleep.

A home isn't just a house. It's where you LIVE and BREATHE and make some of your life's most important decisions! The house is my base camp, the manifestation of my dreams, where I travel the world from, and come back to! The house has a spirit, too. A soul that is alive and moves. Have you ever been to a friend's home and you liked it right away? Or you went somewhere, say a restaurant, and you just DIDN'T like it? It isn't all about the PEOPLE there, how they act and feel or the decoration. The building too, has a soul and has it's own unique gifts. I know deep in my heart that EVERYTHING is CONNECTED. And I know that Everything is sacred.

We can honour places, landscapes, houses as well as humans. By decorating them, pray or paint with them, nourish them, give them flowers. Our house is a soul in who's company we are in almost every day. When we HONOUR our house (this means being AWARE, being alive with the building and APPRECIATING it), it becomes the nourishing, beautiful spot on the planet, where we surely wanna live and unfold!

This morning I drew this house sketch and making it made it clear for me just how important my house is. And what a great gift and blessing it is.
You can also be a part of the fun by decorating and appreciating YOUR house. I am sure you already have ways of being with yourself in the house; your favourite armchair, favourite view or favourite little ornament in a special place.
If you want to create your own House Blessing, I have made this drawing available for download for you. All free. As a HOUSE GIFT.
Once downloaded and printed you can colour the image any way you like. And it's a nice practice to do with kids as well. They usually love everything creative! You can also add a piece of cardboard on the back if you like to make it thicker. Paint, glitter and glue. Use crayons, watercolours or acrylic! You can even print the image on a piece of coloured paper, and paint with white on top! Possibilities are endless!
Once the artwork is done, I've designed a little cross in the top of the circle, to put a needle and a string through. Simply cut out around the circle to get a nice, homely inspiration and nourishment ;)

How do I download the image?

Do you have "favourites"? I so have favourites. Favourite mini tinbox with yummy teabags in. Favourite colour combinations. Favourite tea and favourite temperature!

Things have slowed down here lately and I must admit I REALLY like it. No more running around and feeling I have to do everything... yesterday! Today I can relax, and looking ahead I don't have many projects coming. And I like it. I like being new to the world and not worry too much. What will tomorrow bring? I don't know.
I am taking some time to dream more. Well, perhaps not in my sleep (although I do dream sometimes when I'm in deep sleep), no I mean when I'm just walking around, doing the daily work around the house. I think about the future. No, that's not true, I DREAM about it. I picture things in my head that I would like to see happen. I don't DO anything about it just now, which is the part that I like SO much right now! I am -just- being and seeing and... dreaming. It's lovely.
I think about how my art studio feels, and how I want it to be. Recently, I heard a woman say that your studio is your life. Your life is your studio. I like that idea. Anything you create is part of your life. Your life is your creation. You create the life for you. And you already know who you are.

The Moon has been very present the last couple of days here. Very clear and very bright. Last night it was shining in through the bedroom window like a Night Silver Sun. I went out for a walk this morning, and it was still hanging in the air. Over the hills.

Do you know Amanda Clark? She makes such wonderful images. This one I borrowed because it talks to me about the Moon, the dreaming. Somehow the moon and dreaming seems to be interconnected. And the wolf. They all seem to be coming from the same mystery. I don't know it yet. But I am happy to step closer.

I've always been spoiled. My older brother could probably have told you this 15 years ago. I realized it today. With a BIG plunge! I've always been spoiled! Spoiled with love.

I guess being spoiled is perhaps one if those things that you might not actually notice you are - because you are too spoiled to notice! But don't worry. It will come. In time!

I came into this world as the kid sister of two older brothers. And they loved me. They loved me dearly. And my parents loved me. Just as much.

I was lucky to have two older brothers in my life and I was surrounded by love the whole time. I guessed that's where it started. The spoiled-ness. The Princess-ness. The very moment my brothers laid their eyes on me. Spoiled.

I guess some things in my life haven't been easy. And I do believe that some of it is because of me being spoiled! I didn't understand why I didn't do better at that, or couldn't have that, or that didn't turn out as easy as I thought. Because I am naturally used to being the center of good attention!As I've grown older I understand, of course, that having goodness and creating goodness is something that I have to work for. It doesn't always come just by itself.

At the age of 21 I was accepted in to one of the most prestigious design colleges in Denmark. Only 2 offered a MA degree in illustration and I was accepted in the one I wanted to go to most of all! Now, I wasn't accepted in my first attempt, but two years later after some serious training in graphic design and illustration (at Den Skandinaviske Designhojskole) I was allowed into my dream study: Illustration! (I wanted to go there because the students drew all the time and that's what I wanted to do!). Spoiled, spoiled, spoiled!

And forwarding to today, At this present moment I live in one of the world's most superb and exquisite places on the planet when it comes to food and drinks! To the French drinking and eating isn't just that! They CARE about cuisine and they are PROUD of creating food (not to mention the wine of course, which is so rich and cheap you feel... Well, spoiled!). It is guaranteed that you will almost never find a poor coffee in France even if you go to one the shabbiest places in town! In that way I am spoiled! Eating pizza made with dedication and love not only tastes good but makes you EXPERIENCE food. Every time? That's gotta be spoiled!

Tonight I am walking hand in hand with the most considerate man I know. He is right here. He will change side to walk on the other side of me when we come to a big road, to walk between me and the moving traffic. To protect me. As a shelter. And maybe it's because he was born and raised in one of the most rigid factories that creates gentlemen (still to this day); Great Britain, but I think it's something else. I think I'm just spoiled!

Just when I had decided to slow down and have a bit of a rest, my webshop gives me a pretty sweet offer for my friends, family & fans of my art! FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING on products in my shop (art prints, cups, pillows and more!) AND 5 DOLLARS (30 kroner) off every item in the shop! From NOW till NOVEMBER 9th! That means if you order before November 9th, you get the shipping for free no matter where you live AND every product you buy has a 30 kroner (5 USD / €4) discount! Every product! Pret-ty sweeeet!

All you have to do to get the free shipping and discounts is follow this link! Remember free shipping ends on November 9th 2014. So take your time to chose the best for you, your family and friends for Christmas or winter pressies :-D
* Free shipping is not included on my framed art prints or canvases. But there is free shipping on my art prints.


Let me show you some of my personal favourites right now. These are all available in the webshop and with FREE shipping!

Today I read something interesting on Kelly Rae Robert's blog. If you don't know her, she is a painter among other things. She said:

I always know when I need to make a change  - it's usually when something is no longer fun and feels more like a burden. That's what's happening here, and I'm paying close attention.

I can't help but feel that she is talking to me. She says:







Read the whole post from Kelly Rae here.

Yesterday I was having one of those days. You know what I am talking about when I say "One of those days". It's one of those days where I seriously think about quitting my whole lifestyle, fly to Africa to help out with the Ebola virus problem, because, seriously, I am not making a god damn difference here! I'm thinking that my misfortunes lately is God telling me that I seriously should think about doing something else. Why else could it be that things are not working out?!!
Then I realize that perhaps I shouldn't quit all together. And maybe what I do DOES make a difference. And perhaps it wasn't EVERYTHING that went pear shaped (read: Wrong!), maybe it was just one thing. That one thing that I really wanted.

Today as I sit and write this post, it is my number 100 post for this blog. This blog started as fate would have it, on the 26th of October last year. I don't know about you but I really like mornings. There is something extremely sacred about the mornings. Everything is possible. Nothing is written.Yet.
I'm not sure what this day will bring yet. Yesterday I spent a lot of time with my website again. Initially I just wanted to change a few things but then, as fate would also have it, all my changes from last time (where I spent 2 full days on designing it) had NOT been saved. And so, is it fate handing me a hand, helping me to change it again, to improve and to stay true to my purpose? When I work with computer, I enjoy it for a couple of hours. Then I get tired. I get sad, and I get frustrated. Then I have a break and come back. Return to my vision and keep working.
Maybe it's stupid. You know, maybe I should have someone just do my website for me, fix it up, make it licious. But I can't. Not right now. I want to know that I have given it my all. Because that's what I believe in. Giving it all. Not giving up.

When I started my blog back then a year ago I didn't know how it would look. It has changed appearance many times. All I know is that I wanted to write more, and I still enjoy that. So it's 1 year and 100 posts that tells story about my art, my life and my garden, my dreams and hopefully also my fears.
One of the things I believe is that we let each other see inside who we really are as a person. I remind myself this again and again. It means to tell the whole story. Not just the accomplishments and the goals made. But also the struggles. The meaninglessness. The frustrations.
I could be better at those last parts.
This is the end of a circle. A first circle. Like a New Year's day I celebrate this day as a landmark in my art and story.

Thank you for being here with me.

Aww, I'm so proud and so thrilled! Today I get to announce 2 - TWO! - new listings in my webshop! I am super excited! Here are some lovely shots of my newest release, one 10 PACK of cards and 1 4 PACK of cards both now available in the shop! Yay yay yay! Hope you like them, and enjoy!

BIG Love,
Lone!

Hi readers,
It's been quiet here lately with family visiting and lots of new ideas brewing!

I couldn't believe my luck when a customer turned to me to order a pack of 10 cards! This has never happened to me before, and I feel so lucky and so proud! Today I worked on the photoshoot and very soon I will be publishing a "10 cards - 1 free" PACK for everyone!

PLUS!

Newsletter Videos for October 2014

If you haven't already seen my NEWSLETTER VIDEO - you must! I have never had so much fun telling about christmas cards and seasonal decorations! I hope you enjoy it.

Here is the ENGLISH version

and here is the DANISH version!

Enjoy!

I am very inspired by the people I walk amongst. The normal people. All the ordinary people. My cards are about these people. The dreamers, the mums, the dads, sisters and friends. We all have a little bit of something special inside. And I find it so unique and so interesting.

Recently a woman came to me, and asked me if I could make a card design for her to give to her newborn granddaughter. I thought this was a very special and powerful request. Because what are the gifts that we want to give to a new born child? A girl coming into this world, all new, all blessed.

As ever so often (thank you Universe!) the images that I create do not come from hours of thinking and drawing and creating. Most commonly they come from an inside place, and they stand out, they shine. When I see this picture inside I KNOW this is the right image. I see it and I can feel the image.

Then I start to sketch and draw what I see. And the first sketch is often very powerful. This sketch fixates the composition in the picture, who is in it, and where they are.

In so many ways this newborn girl (who is not yet born - but just getting ready!) is just like so many other girls being born. She has the same nose as most, the same eyes and the same body as most newborn girls. And then, in so many other ways - this girl is special! This girl is so unique with her own story, her own family tree and her own roots. In so many ways, there is none else quite like this girl - and that's what I wanted to express, with my card.

But I also wanted to express the love and support commitment from the Universe around this special girl. Inspired by Disney's Snowwhite and The Seven Dwarfs I found myself drawing an image much like the scene in the woods (if you remember the fim), where the animals stand watching. They are observing - they are watching. They are the witnesses of the birth as well as the human family. Perhaps they too are depictions of Spirit, like the Eagle in the tree, and the tree itself.

In this card I used a little bit stronger, darker colour than what I usually do in my watercolours.

Every girl is special. Every person is unique.

Here are pictures from my photo shoot and the final design.
The artwork A New Life is available in my webshop.

Do you remember these guys? This drawing was made on my retreat to north Sweden last October.
I am so happy to be announcing that the Bear Kissing greeting card is now sold out! Yes, it's true! So, so happy and grateful that so many people liked this particular design.
I, myself am happy with how the vibrant rainbow colours in the background turned out. It was a complete surprise to me! The last card was purchased in my webshop. Bye, bye, adjö... but don't you think we'll meet again? ;)

Do you know Wendy Andrew? Her cards and designs are so wonderful!

Wendy's artwork connects me with the powers of nature: the seasons, the animals, the spirits of nature. It's wonderful. Just now I received the autumn equinox newsletter from Wendy, with this lovely image. Ah, her stuff is so great :-)

Happy autumn!