Sun energy

Oh me oh my! This sunshine! It's so ENERGIZING!

I have had another productive day, I couldn't help myself! I woke up with no alarms, just by the magnificent sun shining in disregarding our curtains... Sometimes you just know it's going to be a good day! 

I really really love this time of the year. Honestly, it's not surprising I got married in March! The sunshine is warm and the temperatures are mild, it's clear and white and crisp, and the anticipation of spring is like a drug. It won't be too long before the snow melts away and the trees bud and flowers come back! 

Ah spring ♥

Feeling like this, I did my part cleaning this morning (vacuuming) and quickly finished the little baby hat I started last night. My husband's friend just became a dad to a sweet little thing named Sofia, so I made her a little hat perfect for spring. I have no idea whatsoever if it will fit, I have no real experience of baby heads, but it was cute if nothing else! 

And let me tell you, never look up baby and crochet together. If there is anything to ignite a baby fever, it's all the cute stuff you can make for them! 

I also started a new little project for the fourth nephew last night. He's the little guy I crocheted a turtle outfit for. :) I won't reveal what it is because I don't want to ruin the surprise for his parents, but I think the whole family is going to like it! It was tough coming up with something for him that reflected both his parents and his aunt and uncle here in Finland. Also, a baby living in sunny Florida born in the warm spring doesn't really need many blankets, hats or other wooly things. I had to think outside the box! Can't wait to see the finished product! :)

Sneak peek!

I just had to get some painting in today as well... I couldn't bear to let the amazing light flowing through the windows go to waste. So I set up my little atelier again and enjoyed painting summer. Summer is the equivalent to strawberries and yellow sunshine. The strawberries won out over a picture I took last summer of the lake. I want to start landscapes soon, but today I just wanted some instant gratification and to indulge in summer thoughts! 

I will be spending tomorrow with my mama, which means I just might spend some time with granny squares. I like letting her pick out the color combos. It makes it more fun! I think she likes it, too. :)

Thanks for reading! Hope you can enjoy this spring sunshine, too! 

P.S. 

Had to share their good buddy moment they had while I was painting :) ♥

Sparkles and a Rainbow

As promised, a post about sparkles and a rainbow. 

No, there wasn't a rainbow outside... In fact, can rainbows even happen in winter? 

(Note to self, must google this!) 

I have been wearing a rainbow outside though. Inside too actually! I just looooooooove the colors! I already told Hubby-man that I want to one day decorate our dream farm house with these colors! This scarf just makes me smile! Thanks to my mama for knitting it for me!!! :)

So that was my rainbow...what about the sparkles? 

Well my friends, I spent Sunday at my parent's house and was a wee bit bored and suddenly inspired to take pictures of anything that sparkles. Silly, I know. Fun, you betcha! 

Finding sparkles in my parent's home is not a hard feat. In fact, their whole house sparkles (which my mom later decided must be a sign of tackiness, lol). I always wanted a really modern or contemporary styled house as a kid. All my friend's grew up in places like that (it looked that way to me, anyway) and I was always slightly embarrassed by my parent's taste for frou-frou, pink, and antiques (especially living in Finland!). 

These days I find my parent's style refreshing from everyone else's house, it's deliciously frou-frou! So here is my photo celebration of sparkles!

 This is my favorite chandelier. Yes, there is more than one... This one is the best though, it catches beautiful rainbow spectrums in the right light...

 Who else would have a giant piece of fool's good lying around on the windowsill, lol!

 My mom's funny purse collection has some sparkle *wink wink*

The china cabinet is alive with sparkles...

  My godmother used to buy me costume jewelry when I little, remnants in my mom's china cabinet now. I loved going to thrift shops with my godmother and picking out some outrageous pieces! 

Pretty ring, ain't it?

Ya know, I could probably easily do a series of lace in my parent's home. Lord knows there is enough of it! 

There is an idea for the next time I get bored while visiting! Teehee! 

Thanks for reading! :)

Painting spree

Ah, sweet vacation... Honestly, I should be considering school work, but on the other hand, I couldn't care less! 

So I'll sit here on the couch typing one-handed because a cat I know is asleep in my lap with her head resting on my arm! I take any affection I can when it comes to her, she's usually so moody!

I have had a very unproductive day thus far, just finished the book I started last night. I don't read that often, but when I do I try to finish the book in one sitting almost. I love the nonsense of these chick lit novels, so scandalous! And I almost only read British authors because I love the language and slang! Lol!

My unproductivity is also due to the fact that I was so darn productive yesterday! 3 small paintings in one day, and despite my intention of leaving details to a minimum and focusing only on highlights and lowlights and colors, I ended up using the smallest brush for most of the time on each painting! I blasted my ipod and sang along loudly and enthusiastically, much to the neighbors pleasure, I imagine! Honestly, I have the most eclectic taste in music. Tori Amos was followed by Rebelution, by Maroon 5, by Otep, by Slightly Stoopid, by Tool, by Charles Aznavour... I love the diversity! 

It was even a sunny day so I was in such a good mood! :)

I loved finally setting up my "atelier" for the first time. It's been something I have been thinking about for a while, making the desk and corner of the bedroom a little studio space and creating storage for my craft supplies instead of having them here and there throughout the house. Slowly but surely, I have been arranging and organizing, and yesterday was the first time I used the space as I have been wanting to. It's not a complete atelier yet, I still need to do some more cleaning and arranging and I have a fantasy of crocheted bunting across the shelf, but I am on my way!

(While it's annoying, I love when I make mistakes in paintings because it means I probably won't make them again. I see a huge problem in this photo here, but hey, artists interpretations and whatnot...)

Actually, I have been playing with the idea of churning out more paintings and by the end of the year opening an etsy store. I would call it "Anneli's Atelier". I have also been toying with the idea of starting a new blog with the same name to make a cohesive "brand" of sorts. Also because I am rather regretting my choice of "a sorta fairytale" as a blog name. No matter how you google it, my blog is lost in the internet among other blogs of the same name, as well as all things pertaining to the song originating the name. I started this blog as just an outlet for what I do best: crochet, bake, paint, take flower pictures. I didn't think I cared if anyone ever read it, and honestly, I still haven't told many people about it because I like having it semi-private. However, I am beginning to have a change of heart, I think this blog was good practice but mainly just that perhaps. I'm thinking once I have finished my atelier, I might finish this blog and start the new one. Hopefully, it will be the blog of an art student! Lord knows I have been practicing drawing for the pre-tasks! 

 (My favorite of the day, the colors are a lot brighter in person. The last painting was finished as the sun was going down --> no pictures, maybe another time!)

Until then though, this is my outlet for my creative tendencies... and I am so very grateful! :)

 Thanks for reading, my next post will be about rainbows and sparkles, wait till you see! :)

New hair and more tulips

Who has two thumbs and is rocking a new 'do? This girl!!! :)

It only took  me a year (almost anyway) to get around to it, and boy was it shameful showing the state of my hair to a stranger, but she did a super job and I think I'll go back before too long for a maintenance trim so I can have a shorter hairstyle for the summer. :) I love the bounce it has again, I wonder how it will look tomorrow when all the product has been washed out and the professionally straightened look leaves... I always hope that lighter layers will help my natural curls bounce up a bit, but usually it just gets wavy. Oh well, it will be fun to do more things with a new 'do and not feel like I'm stuck in such a style rut! 

Ooooh, and side swept bangs... she understood exactly what I wanted! :)

 When I came home and asked the hubster to take a few pictures (note my new scarf by my mama, just gotta sew in the ends!), Koda got all excited and jumped up to lick my face! Fun ensued with him alternating kissing and then biting my hands and his own to get down. He's such a silly boy! 

...and a big one!

 And ya know, I can't leave well enough alone, I took a few more tulip pictures the other day since they are opening up and I can't bear not to share! Luuuurve my flowers! I already told my husband that I want tulips for our first anniversary, preferably pink, since that was my wedding bouquet! I never did share any wedding pictures on here, maybe I will for my first anniversary! :)

Thanks for stopping by! I am feeling a million times better now and I see a lot of crocheting coming up since my actual winter/spring vacation started today!  :)

For now though, I have to get back to the Marian Keyes book I started yesterday! I don't read so much anymore, but when I get my hands on a good chick lit book, I can't bear to do anything but read!

Have a superb weekend!

My nightstand and tulips

Can I just say, I dearly love my husband. He has kindly taken care of the animals, gotten me tea, made me dinner, and surprised me with tulips AND laskiaispullaa! Yesterday was so called "Fat Tuesday" and in Finland it's mainly a day when kids sled down hills and then everyone eats these laskiaispullia. Catholicism isn't big here so no one gives anything up for Lent, thus it's a day about sledding and pulla! :) It's a sweet cardomom bun (pulla) with a filling of jam and whipped cream. It's delicious! 

(And I'm usually not one for pulla!)

The tulips have certainly made an impact on my health, I have felt the best today so far! I love all the different colors! I always do think it's so hard to decide which color bouquet to pick! 

They are opening beautifully today and have even inspired me to get out of bed and take a million pictures of them. I was even inspired to share what my nightstand looks like right now. There is usually a picture (an ooold one) of us and the mirror I decoupaged, plus the usual cell phone and odd bits and bobs. 

Now the frame is safely moved out of the way and the vase of tulips is in its place. There is paracetamol, ibuprofen, a jumbo pack of tissues, throat lozenges, a big tervis cup which holds my water (I was drinking tea out of these during the weekend), vaseline (essential for healing a raw, over-blown nose), my thermometer (I finally bought one), my cell phone, and my old glasses which I wear sometimes. 

I remember I once read a blog post somewhere about nightstands and stuff people have on them and how it tells a lot about you. Mine definitely does, and like me, it changes and rolls with the times. :) Today I have even managed to fit the giant Lonely Planet Japan guidebook on there, which makes me desperately want to go back and explore another part of Japan... and re-read our honeymoon blog for a memory jolt! ( ← why we made the blog!)

Now if you wouldn't mind enjoying just a few more tulip pictures, I promise to leave you alone with them until probably next time! Teeheehee! 

I ♥ tulips! 

And this Kissa, who has along with her boisterous brother Koda Bear, been taking good care of their mama and cheering her up with loooots of cuddles! 

Thanks for reading! Hope you are enjoying the approaching spring and are in good health! 

(I'm trying to be optimistic, our weather is rocking around +/- 0C with a dash of sunshine!)

Sick!

Looks like my next week's winter vacation just got a week longer... Unfortunately, I spent the weekend with total body aches, fever and a wicked cough and stuffed up nose. :( I went to the doctor this morning, who said I seem to have the good old influenza and gave me a week's sick leave. 

I have to drag myself there tomorrow morning again to take a quick blood test to see if my infection markers are going up or down. Hopefully down, this disease sucks!

That, and I hate sitting in bed all day and looking around the room at all the cleaning and other things that could be done and knowing that I just can't do it right now. I'm even too exhausted to crochet! :( And when I half-heartedly peruse pinterest, I find the cheddar-deep-fried-chicken-sundaes disgusting! 

(Ok, a bit of exaggeration, but you get the point)

Ah, just needed to vent a bit. I am horrible at being sick (despite my lazy tendencies)!

Finished Puro hat and scarf

As promised, here is the latest finished project, my crochet hat and scarf!

I finished it last Saturday night and was so pleased with how it turned out. The hat is a kind of small net on the top so the wind blows right through, making this a bad hat choice for -20C. However, it works nicely in these more mild temperatures and with my coat hood pulled up, it is nice and warm. I love that for once (!), I have a matching hat and scarf. Seriously, I don't think I have EVER had a matching set! :)

Like I have written before, the scarf was made by crocheting a foundation chain the desired width, then working hdc's across and turning, making sure to always crochet in the back loops. This is how I got the rippled effect. I crocheted until I was almost out of yarn because my goal was to make this an infinity scarf AND use up all of this particular yarn. Once that happened, I sc the two ends together making a loop. Very simple. I actually like the scarf more than the hat!

The pattern for the hat is here, at lion brand yarn. I have decided to, at least for now, skip the pom pom.

It is Friday again, so I feel compelled to talk about my granny squares. I have only crocheted a few more squares this week here and there, I think a total of 6. Not really worth pictures, especially since the weather outside is gray and snowy. Really snowy. Coming in sideways snowy!

I do have a picture of my bear from last Friday though. We laid each on our respective couches in the early afternoon. I was on pinterest/trying to work on school stuff and he was off in dreamland. :)

Well,  I suppose it's time to really tackle this to-do list. This weekend:

I'm grooming Manta, giving everyone a pedicure, finishing a school essay, applying for summer jobs (I'm so late in the game here!), crocheting squares and a baby hat perhaps, making appointments, and my favorite part: oil pastels, oil pastels, oil pastels. I even wrote it three times on my to do list. :)

Time to get busy!

Thanks for reading, hope you have a productive yet relaxing weekend! (That is what I am hoping for anyway!) :)

Valentimes

Thank you for the Valentine's Day wishes! I hope everyone had a wonderful day! :)

I myself had an amazing Valentine's Day! I got beautiful roses and chocolates, as well as knocked hubby's socks off with my surprise...

I got home early from school, ran through the store, picked up some bubbly, made sushi (warp speed, it was like the iron chef!) and cleaned up a bit. Oh and of course put on a dress, although I didn't have time to do my hair before he got home. Lol!

The sushi was salmon or (imitation) crab *cough student budget cough* with the usual culprits of avocado and cucumber, but also a bit of carrot and bell pepper for color. I loved the crunch the carrot brought, it's definitely going in my sushi from now on since I am a self-proclaimed "texture eater". 

We ate it with some chopsticks we got as a wedding present (the Japan honeymoon theme) and drank green tea out of our little Japanese cups bought from an outdoor flea market in Kyoto. I swear people drank tea out of these bowls and I'm not making it up! I even drank tea out of these in our hotel room then, hahaha!

The bubbly was poured into our wedding champagne flutes (since that's all we own) and we both enjoyed trying to photograph the bubbles, golden liquid, candlelight, and our etched initials. Gotta love having hobbies in common!

Dessert was a warm chocolate cobbler that I added large chunks of dark chocolate to for that molten lava cake effect. I really did want to make molten lava cakes but I need to expand my ramekin collection...and remember to buy eggs next time. Hah! 

The chocolate concoction went down nicely paired with a coconut whipped cream. Mmm.

I couldn't help but be mesmerized by the roses in the candlelight. I sure do love a good flower picture!

Ah, so that was the last holiday as a married first. 

We have been doing a lot of reflection with our impending first anniversary and I must say, it's still hard to believe it's been almost a year!!

Thanks for reading! I have some scarf and hat pictures to share for next time! :)