Fundraiser update.

Remember the canvas "Believe" that I donated for the fundraiser arranged by
Scandinavian Center at Nansen field and the Norweigan Seamens's Church in San Pedro, California in October?

I'm pleased to tell you that it raised $250 at the silent auction. So happy about that!
I will absolutely try to do this again next year.

I've been so busy these past weeks that there hasn't been much time blogging lately.
We were lucky to have our oldest daughter home for a week in November, she's a student at Lund University in Sweden. I decided to drive her back to Sweden, and at the same time visit my family in Copenhagen, since we are not spending Christmas together this year.
I had a great time.

I've also been painting on larger canvases recently.
I made this for my dear husband for his birthday.

Since my husband is a Liverpool supporter, I had to include "You'll never walk alone."
The canvas is 65x65 cm (26x26 inch).

Joy

This weekend I had some wonderful time to play with my new supplies.
I had so much fun creating a new Mixed Media Canvas: JOY
The snow crystals are made with a stencils, modeling paste and German glass glitter.

New supplies.

Whenever I travel to California I try to stock up on my art supplies.
There are some really good online stores like Bikuben ( http://bikuben.com ), and Scrappiness ( http://scrappiness.no ), in Norway, and I think it's important to support them too.

Golden Acrylics are the perfect mixed media paint. I usually apply them with a brayer in random places on canvases or Art Journals, it gives a really good effect.

This year I bought Pan Pastels. I have wanted them for a long time. I did try Oil Pastels, but Pan Pastels seem so much easier to blend. I will be looking into a couple of online workshops held by Donna Downey.
I love to learn new techniques so I can't wait.

Stencils plays a big part when I work on canvases and in my Art Journals. It's so much fun building layers with Ink Sprays and paint, you never know what you'll end up with. I love it, and I think that an artist can never have to many Stencils!

I love Tim Holtz Stamp Collections. I got 5 new Stamp sets. I can't wait to use them.

German Glass Glitter, the real stuff, is something I buy every year. It works beautifully on holiday projects because it actually tarnishes, and gets the most amazing patina, it looks Vintage, which I love!

Magazines are a big inspiration source for me. I always get a bunch of the newest publication from Somerset Studios. I really want to buy them all, but magazines are so heavy in a suitcase, so I try to be reasonable!

I really enjoy spending time in bookstores. I alway check out Barnes & Nobles for new Mixed Media books. They have a lot to choose from.

As Many of you know, I just finished Kelly Rae Roberts E-Course Flying Lessons. I have wanted some of her prints for a long time, but found out that she does not ship International. I decided to order them and have them sent to my friends address in Long Beach, it worked perfectly. 
I'm now the proud owner of two beautiful prints from my mentor Kelly Rae Roberts! 

  

I´m Back!

I just returned from my trip to sunny California. I had a wonderful time visiting good friends, Disneyland, Universal Studios, Las Vegas and of course: SHOPPING!.

I also got to go to an Art Show (http://glitterfest.com), held by Whimzy in old Tustin. I forgot to take pictures inside the art show, but I can tell you... it was fantastic!

My friend Carol and I also had a nice trip to Old Orange. I can really recommend a whole day in Old Orange. You need time to look at all the cute shops and there are some great places to eat.

We spend a lot of time inside Country Roads (http://countryroadsantiques.com), an amazing store!





































The kids and I had a hot day (93 F) in Disneyland. There was not a lot of people that day, so we did not wait in line for a long time

The Haunted House was decorated for Halloween. It looked really spooky!












Our trip to Universal Studios was also great. I had not been there for a while, so it was nice to see all the new attractions. The Simpson roller coaster was a great ride, I did not have high expectations, but that ride was so fun!



Waterworld is a must see I think. Great show.






We meet up with friends at Crystal Cove state park, Laguna Beach and had a wonderful dinner at The Beachcomber watching the sunset. I don´t think you can eat any closer to the pacific ocean then here!









Speaking of food. We had to visit the place you get the best shakes, in our old neighborhood: Ruby´s at the Huntington Beach pier.

Las Vegas was also great fun. I think that trip maybe need a blogpost of it own!

Giving back.

About 16 years ago, my husband, our two daughters and I were lucky enough to live a couple of years in sunny California.
My husband was offered a job in a Norwegian company located in Long Beach. We settled in Huntington Beach, know as Surf City, and we absolutely loved it.
We try to go back every fall to visit good friends and enjoy the nice weather before preparing ourselves for the long cold winter in Norway.

In San Pedro and Palos Verdes, there are large communities of scandinavians. It was wonderful being a part of the Norwegian Seamen´s Church and the Scandinavian Center at Nansen field (SCAN). It was truly a home away from home.

Every year, the Seamen´s Church and SCAN organizes a fundraising event by arranging a Golf Tournament. This year I really wanted to give something back for all the support our family got during our time in California. So I donated a Mixed Media canvas for a silent auction.

It´s 12" x 12", so it will actually fit in my suitcase.

Comfort Zone.

As you may know, I´m taking part in Kelly Rae Roberts Flying Lessons E-Course.
We are over 500 women with the same dream: to live a creative life.
This last week I have gotten so much inspiration from all of these fantastic, talented women.
I posted a couple of pictures of my work on our closed Facebook page.
Now I feel a little overwhelmed by the response and support.

A lot of these wonderful women are working with bright colors, and I absolutely love that!
So I challenge myself with the use of Pink, which I find appropriate since it is October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

I really want to be more daring in my choice of color.
But then again, working in my Art Journal with my favorite colors, within my comfort zone, is also so relaxing.