Chanel X 9

I've been wanting to put together this poster for forever now. I've planned it out several times, but never actually sat down to finish it (even though it didn't take much skill or time, since all the illustrations were already complete.) Sometimes it just takes a customer to get my butt in gear. So here it is Chanel X 9!

WIMB: Victoria of Vmac & Cheese

Hello Wednesday!

It feels as though it has been months not two weeks since my last instalment of my Blogger What's in my Bag series. These are so fun, I wish I had time to finish one absolutely everyday. (That's never going to happen!)

Anyhow, who did I have the pleasure of collaborating with this week? Well the fantabulous Victoria we all know and love from the amazing blog Vmac & Cheese and her inspiring company Vivaleur. Her posts are always so stylishly put together and professional so I just knew her picks for the illustration were going to be amazing. I was rather shocked by all the color though (I had her figured out all wrong, as a neutrals girl.) I am in love love love with the coral, dark green, gold, blue and fuchsia combo! I also love that she chose a mix of her items and a few dream items. (We'll just let you guess which are which.)

I am so happy to add this one to the collection. As always if you'd like to see the other Blogger WIMB illustrations I've completed look here... and you can always get one for yourself here...

Happy Birthday!

Today is my Daddy's birthday! The best Daddy in the entire world of course! (Grattis is short for Happy B-Day in Swedish, by the way.)

I have this picture taped to the inside of my planner, a picture from when my Dad graduated High School or rather Swedish Gymnasiet (as it's called here) in 1969. My Great Grandparents are also present. I love looking at old photos of my parents and other family members, I have a few others taped inside cookbooks and other notebooks. They are a nice reminder of what a lovely family I have.

In Fuchsia's Kitchen

Last week in the mail an Amazon order for a few new cookbooks finally arrived at my doorstep (well actually at the postoffice at our local grocery store, but whatevs.) One of the books was Fuchsia Dunlop's Every Grain of Rice. After devouring much of the book in one go, I set off to Stockholm's biggest China Market to stock up on a few new cooking ingredients. I of course have the usual soy sauce and sesame oil at home but I was super eager to try chili bean paste, fermented black beans, and Shaoxing cooking rice wine. 

For awhile now I've been really interested in learning Asian cooking techniques and testing out more authentic Asian flavors. Before I've been a bit obsessed with Japanese, and Vietnamese cooking, now it's China's turn. Fuchsia's book feels really authentic to me while still catering to European tastes and supermarket availability. (Like I'm not too interested in cooking with lots of innards, or bones, but I'm really really interested in all of the fragrant sauces.)

The sauce that I am most excited about learning, is Fuchsia's homemade fragrant chili oil. My first thought was that it would be nuclear hot considering the almost neon red brightness of the color and the scary amount of chili powder added but it truly is gorgeously delicious with only a slight heat. After making it and using it in these Sichuan dishes last weekend I've also been adding it to as much as I can think of from a drizzle on lasagna or an egg salad sandwich. The oil was especially delicious on the homemade pork dumplings.

A few of the recipes I tried from her book were Smacked Cucumber in Garlicky Sauce, Sichuanese Numbing and Hot Beef, Radishes in Chili Oil Sauce, Twice Cooked Swiss Chard (though I used cabbage as Swiss Chard isn't available right now), and Sichuanese Wontons in Chili Oil Sauce. All of the recipes turned out gorgeously as her recipes are very well described and put together with a lot of background information on all the exotic ingredients. I seriously can't wait to cook through the entire 350 page cookbook.

Fuchsia's Fragrant Chili Oil:

(I halved her recipe and didn't add quite as much chili powder, cuz I'm a scaredy cat, but it turned out wonderful all the same. Maybe next time I'll add the full 50g of chili powder.)

• 250ml vegetable oil (I used Rapseed oil)
• 40g ground chili powder (bought at the Asian market, this should be either Sichuan chilis or Korean chili powder, def not Mexican... though that would probably be gorgeous on tacos, hehe.)
• tsp grated fresh ginger
• 1/2 tsp sesame seeds

Using a thermometer heat oil a saucepan (carefully of course) to 200°C. Once it hits 200°C turn off the heat and allow to cool to 140°C. Meanwhile in a heat proof container (I used a 500ml pickling jar) pour in the chili powder, ginger and sesame seeds. When the oil cools to 140°C pour over the chili powder mixture and watch as it sizzles and becomes insanely fragrant. If it seems like the chilis are burning you can pour in a little regular oil... obviously you are also being really carefully not to burn your hands when pouring sizzling oil too right?! This is ready to use already the next day, just mix around the sediment at the bottom to loosen before using. (Oh and don't wear white!)

I can't even begin to describe how gorgeously delicious this oil is. Please try it!

                                                                                            

The Perfect Apartment

Hello Monday!

I've been a little bit distracted as of late. The apartment we are renting at the moment is going for sale soon, and we either have to figure out if we can buy it, buy something else or try to find another rental (completely impossible in Stockholm). So I've been obsessing (a little too much) over looking at apartments in our price range. I can't keep myself from spending hours and hours on Hemnet it's just so exciting to see where we could possibly live!

Here are a few glimpses at a few gorgeous apartments we've got our sites on...

I bet you can see why I'm so distracted, some of these places are just so very very nice! I think the final decision is going to be really really difficult. But since it's Monday again, I think I need to set a apartment hunting stop, well at least until I finished with all my projects for the day.

Week 4

This week I had all sorts of fun blog things and illustrations planned, but I didn't get them ready in time.  (How shameful!) I love how ambitious I am on Monday, writing a lengthy to do list with all sorts of great things to do... but by Friday, I'm backed up.

• I did get quite a lot of nice things finished, and started on. I've been working on around 24 illustrations for a few different clients. Certainly keeping me busy! Can't wait to show them off as soon as I can.

• And for myself I've been even more obsessed with pattern making more than usual. I have even created a finished pattern that I'm actually very very pleased with. It took a bit of fixing and tricking, two attempts, and a tutorial or too, but it finally turned out how I wanted. A peek is of course shown up top.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Tree Tops

Just a few more gorgeous photos Boyfriend took this weekend, looking up at the frosty tree tops. I'm especially in love with that first photo... so beautiful.

Frosty

This weekend we experienced some pretty cold minus temperatures, which has left Stockholm pretty dang gorgeous, but left me wanting to stay indoors. Boyfriend braved the cold to take these gorgeous photos of the glittering frosty snow though. I'm glad he did. Aren't they pretty?!

Custom Work

Over the Holidays I completed a few really nice custom illustrations that were going to be given as Christmas presents. Since Christmas is most definitely over I think it's safe to say that these presents have been given to their new owners and I can now show them off.

Two more gorgeous What's in my Bag drawings for my portfolio. They look so gorgeous together, and it's fun to see how different everyone's taste is. You can order one for yourself too you know (yeah you already know that but still...) in my Etsy shop.

Formex

And so it was Monday again, but don't fret Kristina, you're actually feeling pretty inspired, excited, and full of energy. (Annoying right!) Know why? Because you were at Fomex this weekend (One of the largest Nordic design trade shows held here in Stockholm) where you got to see almost too many inspiring things. Everything from textiles to kitchen gadgets, and were introduced to many new talents up here in the cold North.

Now your brain is almost exploding with ideas for textile collections and fun projects to start work on. You even got some great tips for places to contact for production and collaboration. Nice!

Enough of the third person craziness... These two companies became my new favorites... Ferm Living (because of their attention to detail and a little quirk) and Littlephant (because it's just soooo dang cute!) If I can one day build EmmaKisstina to be anywhere near as nice a company, I'd be very pleased.

There were of course many more interesting designers and companies.
A few other favorites were...
• Lisa Bengtsson
• Mairo
• Bungalow
• Anna Ekre
• Vallila

Happy Monday!

Week 3

This week has been a bit of a whirlwind. I almost can't believe it. I received the largest print order of my life, like seriously huge! I've been spending a lot of time preparing this order for my client and communicating with my printshop, it's quite a lot to organize. Major pinch me moment!

I couldn't have asked for a better start to the year.  Finally, I have the opportunity to start new projects and produce new products, and really grow my business. I am really looking forward to see what I can come up with. I've already gotten some drawings and designs planned out. Thinking this is going to be a really fun year!

Oh and the anchovy image? Just random prettiness... and yes I like anchovies.

Vintage Telephone

Thought I'll try something new on Fridays... create a new illustration! I have about a gagillion drawings on my to-do list and just need a real kick to get them produced. So hopefully I can keep it up, and create new illustrations every week and post them here on Fridays.

This week I drew this vintage pay phone... and in 3 color ways no less. Hope you like it!

Which one is your favorite?

WIMB: Monika of Doctor's Closet

Hello Wednesday! Guess what? I've got another wonderful Blogger What's in my Bag collaboration to show off.

I've been collaborating with lots of Americans lately so it seemed fit to pop up to Canada for a bit; to the incredibly nice, super cute Mommy to be Monika of The Doctor's Closet. She's also the lady behind popular jewelry line bfrend. (But I'm sure you already know that, follow and adore her.)

Funny thing is, the illustration didn't start out this way. I got caught up in her surprise switch from a baby girl to a baby boy last week. Her first list of items included sweet baby girl ballet flats and bows... which we quickly changed out for a pair of equally handsome baby boots and a touch of blue, once she heard the news.

Either way, this future son with an 'L' name sure is lucky to have such a stylish Mommy.

To view all of the great bloggers I've collaborated with and all the illustrations I've created you can visit my Pinterest board here...

and if you'd like to commission a What's in my Bag illustration for yourself you can purchase this Etsy listing here...