Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who came to me and my sisters exhibition "Between Sisters"

during these past three weeks!

It went really good with a couple of paintings sold and I'm looking forward to do more design together with Nancy. We talked about making some new work within this theme even before the exhibition was happening, developing it with new drawings and have another exhibition together later on. 

Here are some of the drawings:

And these two are some of my favorites by my sister. They got sold!

Wishing you a great Sunday!

/Carolina

Exhibition work in progress - Between sisters

Great news, my sister and I will have an exhibition together this fall so we're in the stages of producing: 

The theme is sisterhood. Our relationship as sisters, as artisans, youth and adulthood. 

White Eagle - New illustration

Fly swift, fly high across the sky - my soul bird...

My latest drawing is based on some hazy memories of past travels and a revisited daydream of flying free as an eagle. 

A repetitive topic of mine it seems ;D

This is only one of the many illustrations i've done lately and maybe soon i'll be able to post something special i've been working on.

 It's all very exciting and something i've been quiet about for some time now. Hoping soon! 

Meanwhile a little song I used to listen to a lot a couple of years ago during my early travels:

 

/Carolina

My new desk + week activities

Score! I've got my dream desk finally! I haven't had the time to organize it yet but will soon. The right side has a extension and can be folded up and down depending on how much space you've got. We have it folded up so we're able to sit and work together. I just need to come up with a solution to gather all my stuff into one space, and that is  hard as there's not much drawer space on this desk.

Whenever I buy something new I try to get rid of something old and it's not always easy but is most necessary. Anyway, when I was cleaning out I found some old photos of me back in 1998. It was from my first visit to a music festival (Roskilde, Denmark) outside my hometown and it was crazy fun. But time flies....

These photos reminds me of when I started making my own jewelry and clothing. I wore my own beaded necklaces and bracelets and those t-shirts and pants were reconstructed by myself in my teenage room. Oh the nostalgia!

On other things, one of my new hand printed scarves was sold and shipped to a awesome girl in Australia, yay!

Makes me eager to make more soon!

Made new labels for my illustration & crochet jewelry. These are going to the incredible cute boutique Poplin here in Stockholm where my canvas bags and scarves already are displayed. 

Oh! and I'm on Instagram under my name carolinagronholm. Add me if you'd like to see my everyday creative progress and silly stuff.. Are you there? Let me know!

Wishing you a great new week!

/Carolina

Blueberry Skies

Blueberry season is here! and I need to gather up some blueberry picking spirit. Have a look here: 

I used to marvel at the pictures of any illustrated book by Elsa Beskow when I was just a pea. I still do!

And this is my favorite:

Anyway, I shouldn't even show my own illustration in the same post as I mention Elsa Beskow but I got so inspired by the blueberry theme and so I had to paint the sky of my new landscape drawing in that swirly gorgeous blueberry color. My blueberries are never blue but in this creamy purple blue. Yum, I better go and fix my broken smoothie blender so I can make me one with frozen blueberries. Preferably local picked of course!

The Woodland Cemetary

Todays inspiration comes from Skogskyrkogården, The woodland Cemetary, part of the Unesco World Heritage. Not many people know this but it's one of the most beautiful places to visit in Stockholm. The architecture and garden design in this enormous area is absolute grand and with all the chapels and graves it gives the most calming feeling. 

Today, I and a dear friend walked around, had a coffee, listened to birds chatting away, marveled at our view and talked of lost friends. Still, hours later I have this feeling of magical wonders.

I wish I could tell you I made these bracelets today while having my inspirational boost but these are already made and shipped to Helsinki, Finland. They will reside in the Paloni store - opening on june 10th!

For more pictures go to my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/carolinagronholm.creativeartanddesign

7 things

Sau welcomes the sunshine in, sitting on the not yet decorated balcony.

Today I'll try and tell you 7 things about me, things you might not know. This is because Galit passed me the Versatile blogger award! Thank you! I'm so honored though I'm not sure if I ever was good at these things...

Here's me giving it a try!

1. I'm not a telephone person at all. I find it very troublesome and strange to talk to people over the phone without seeing the person. I am very grateful for skype.   

2. I want a pug, a black pug and he's name should be Paolo to match my cat girl Sau. Silly, I know! You see, I never been to Sao Paolo but I very much would like too. 

3. Besides making art and design I also work as a movie projectionist at nights. This suits me just perfectly as it's very flexible in hours and I always come up with great ideas from all the movie inspiration I get!

4. I've always wanted to be in a band, I know, this is really really silly - why don't start a band? We'll... I love to sing but I really can't to my disappointment. I've tried learning playing the guitar and bass guitar several times, piano as a child. I guess it just isn't for me. I surround myself with music instead. 

5. My fears are deep oceans and outer space. 

6. I love bubblegum pop music from the 60's and 70's in case you didn't know. 

7. I've appeared in 2 music videos as a dancer. I'm not telling you what they are.

Pheeew....That was hard! 

I'm passing this on to Cristina, Fee and Nancy with no obligations of course!

Reminiscences of past creativity

Yesterday was a day of productivity and contemplation.

I made new mini illustration necklaces. 

They're a bit smaller than my other mini illustration necklaces and brooches I've made in the past and gives a very delicate look which I like. 

As I was searching through my jewelry tools I found a little box I had completely forgotten about it and so I opened it to found old pearls, stones and thread inside and memories came rushing back. I used to solder metal with stones into small jewelry pieces when I was around 15 years old. I even sold a couple of pieces to people I worked with on summer breaks. This got me thinking that maybe I should try making a jewelry piece by soldering sometime soon. See if I still have it in me, and perhaps this could be a fun little side project!

These mini illustration jewelry be up in shop soon. If you haven't noticed already, I'm helping out ARK -Animal Refuge Kansai in Japan with donating money from all profits made in my shop Late Night Drawing to help with sheltering, veterinary checks and food supplies to the animals in need around the disaster area in Japan. It's not much but it's the best I can do from here. 

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

/Carolina

Nostalgia and inspiration

Some days ago I got reminded of a film I haven't seen for a very long time. It was The Tales Of Beatrix Potter.
All the animals dressed up dancing classical ballet to beautiful orchestra music. Here's a little video I found:

When my sister and I were kids we used to look at this film every time it went on tv, we even had it recorded on vhs so we could look at it whenever we wanted to. I remember loving it and being afraid of some scenes at the same time. I know this film had a profound affect on me as a child and thinking back I know I must have gotten some inspiration from her amazing and delicate work.
 I didn't know back then who Beatrix Potter was and that she was the maker of these characters, I hadn't yet seen these drawings:

So a couple of weeks ago on the subway I saw a poster for a exhibition of her work at Millesgården
and this got me thinking of the film, the inspiration, my childhood and suddenly I was in nostalgia land. I love when that happens, I really have sweet memories of my childhood - and thats even when I met my love J! (that's a story I might tell another time)
Anyway. The exhibition is open till May 15 so I'm going to go! Anyone wanna join? I've always wanted to go to Millesgården but it just haven't come up so this is a great opportunity, thinking late april/early may when the spring flowers are up and shining.

Apropos of inspiration, yesterday was a great day for drawing. I finished 3 original illustrations for the coming exhibition! So I now have 3 more in the midst of making and if super extraordinary inspiration kicks in I'll have some more originals for the shop in april!

Oh man...

I'm so bummed. 

Today the White Stripes announced that the band officially has ended. They will not make another recording or perform live anymore. Ok it wasn't as if I was in chock by this announcement as they haven't performed as a band for many years but still, I always had hope. 

Here are some early interviews and performances made for Swedish tv, Musikbyrån.
 (no dubbing )

Memories of Italy

And not to forget all the pizzas, pastas, gelato and bread meals!

Sweet memories...

From last year's vacation to the US west coast. It's decided. We are going back, but first we have to take a small pause from the west coast. We've been there 2 years in a row! Don't want to get tired of the place....ha!

Sausalito in San Francisco.

Beautiful Oregon coast, you are forever in my heart...

Portland, Oregon. A very cool place to be. Love this town.

School days are over

I've always been very fascinated of storytelling, people's life stories and not just my own family but strangers too! Sometimes when waiting on the bus or tube I get to sit next to one of those old lady's or gentlemen who loves telling their story. Perhaps they feel alone and don't really have someone to listen but I don't mind sitting there, if it's good story I could sit there listening for hours. I haven't had one of those moments in a while now. They are rare and I love them, both the stories and the people who love telling. I found some old school pictures I wanted to share with you. 

Look at the amazing hairstyles these hockey girls got! If I could do that with my hair!

source

This looks so playful and creative, love the swing horse with the boy sitting. 

source

This is my favorite. Beautiful photo with adorable little girls! 

source

Memories

                                
He used to wear colorful socks and they always matched his outfit to perfection. That always used to put a smile on my face and still does when thinking about it. The last time I saw him he was wearing vibrant red socks, so typical him:-)

The needle and my weight

View from a window

Our view from the hotel we stayed at in Vancouver.
And we are back to good old Stockholm! It's nice getting back to the new apartment and my darling cat but oh so boring getting back to the other stuff of regular everyday boredom.

Illustration Friday: Homage

This is an oldie but I think it suits the theme quite well.

Kottfamiljen

Jag är för naturtrogen. Jag brukade faktiskt leka med kottar i skogen vid huset. Mamma kotte, pappa kotte och baby kotte. Vad leker dagens ungar med egentligen??