Bestla

Felted lopi jacket

2011-04-17T19:46:00.005Z

This is Manga, one of my great colleagues. The felted jacket became slightly too felted (experiment too daring), but for Manga's small frame, it is perfect.

Elin´s clothes made today

2011-04-17T19:39:00.003Z

This fabric is from Jo-Ann fabrics in Ann Arbor. It is a shop I can spend hours in and never get bored.

Elin chose this fabric, so nice with some Japanese influence. The skirt has a stretchy knit waist, which hopefully will hang on the hips.

And the harem pants will fit perfectly into the organic market in Ypsilanti. Strecthy cotton so comfy.

My great niece´s mohair jacket

2011-04-17T19:37:00.002Z

Ásta Margrét is Gods blessing to an autie who just loves to make children´s clothes.

This is the latest addition.

New Year with new promises

2011-01-11T23:00:00.002Z

Dear everyone.

I wish all of you a happy New Year.

May it be full of joy and good health and visits to Vienna.

Those cushions I made over Christmas.

The Lion is a gift from my mom some years back.

I finally managed to make it into a cushion.

2010-12-25T15:36:00.002Z

Happy Christmas Everyone.

I hope you are happy and healthy and enjoying yourselves.

Lenny's school bag

2010-12-12T20:58:00.001Z

My friend Lenny is almost 3 years old.

He needed a bag to take to school for snacks and various necessities.

This is what we came up with.

Knit knit knit..........

2010-12-12T20:51:00.002Z

The soft scarf.....

The colorful sweater......

And the itchy and scratcy skirt............... made from lopi.

Designed to make you stay alert!!

Lopi jacket for Elin

2010-07-31T03:50:00.002Z

Elin will be all set for winter in this traditional Icelandic cardigan.

I hope it will not be too itchy and scratchy.

Findings since a while ago

2010-07-28T17:55:00.004Z

This month I went to Iceland.

Those paintings are in my in-law's house.

I am not sure they have been on my blog before.

Summer goes past without painting much. I enjoy my little garden though and my new job.

Best regards to everyone.

Small oil painting

2010-05-04T14:18:00.000Z

Some more baby jackets

2010-05-02T21:33:00.004Z

The knitting continues.

I have made a red, multi color jacket for Asta Margret who is now 7 months old.

It needed some decorating so some flowers were crocheted to embellish both front and back.

The gray jacket goes to little Johannes in Norway. He is only 2 months old but he sure will need a jacket for balmy evenings in Norway.

2010-04-08T07:03:00.004Z

The blue vest is for Elin.

It is made with some remarkable soft mohair - wool mix.

An ideal thing to wear on a mild sping day.

The pattern is home made.

The little jacket is for Magnus, born in February. The size is more for February next year!

It is so hard to estimate when one is not working from a pattern.

2010-03-14T23:01:00.002Z

I painted this still life the other day. 18x 24 cm, oil on canvas.
It took 2 sittings and turned out a bit pale.
Next time I will work with brighter colors, but still life it shall be.

2010-03-14T22:56:00.004Z

Now with a new computer in the house I hope I will start posting more. I am busy with work, thinking about how to redesign the garden, planting seeds and such. I have made a few things for my great niece. She is getting to be 6 months this coming week. I knitted a little dress and a vest. Hopefully she can use it. I hope you are all well.

2010-02-18T12:53:00.005Z

My daughter's boyfriend is an artist.

Not only a nice person but his illustrations are quite unique.

His style you hardly see anywhere else.

He has illustrated and written a book with some amazing pictures.

See some of his work on: Robb Johnston

I hope his book will be published.

2010-02-18T09:19:00.002Z

Hi everyone.

Last weekend I met a fellow artist.

She lives in Vienna, works with organic material

and makes really nice jewellery and

accessories.

Allow me to introduce Berit Jarama Estabrook.

Merry Christmas everyone

2009-12-26T01:14:00.001Z

My ceramic village in the living room window sill, lit by red lights.
Merry Christmas everyone.
We have Elin and Robb with us and have a wonderful time.
This is our last Christmas in this home for a while,
and we are making the most of it.

Christmas is also time for making a new dress

2009-11-27T09:43:00.001Z

This one is meant for Elin, my daughter.
I think the color is wonderful.

My first picture since back in Vienna

2009-11-20T22:05:00.006Z

This is oil on canvas.
40x30 cm

I made a few clothes for myself also

2009-11-20T22:03:00.004Z

Two new knitted items for little babies

2009-11-20T21:58:00.004Z

It is so much fun to make little clothes.
Those 2 items I knitted from the yarn that Gina and Liezl gave me.
The multi color for little girl still awaited, and the orange dress for little Abdullah's daughter who is 10 month old.

Alte Donau - my new neighborhood

2009-11-17T15:05:00.002Z

It is a treat to cycle to work in the morning. Along the lake on a small path.

It takes me 55 minutes to run around the lake. It is a new found sport which I have never done before.

I will post my newest painting soon.

Best regards from Vienna

Erla

Back in Vienna

2009-09-14T08:47:00.005Z

Being back in Vienna is like being back home, in many ways. Like so many people like me who have moved to one country after another, home is never home anymore. So why does this feeling of being homesick continue?
While I was still in Iceland I made a little baby blanket. It is for my nephew's daughter who we expect to be born next month. My family is very excited and wait her arrival with great anticipation. The blanket was photographed in late evening on my balcony in Iceland.
The balcony plants did great this summer. See?

The midnight sun in Reykjavik

2009-07-25T13:28:00.002Z

It is with a heavy heart that I leave Iceland this time.
The summer is such a magical time (well ok, when it is not raining and windy)
This picture is taken early this month, just few minutes before midnight.

More knitted goods

2009-06-20T23:29:00.003Z

After a rather slumbersome winter I have a few things to show.
Some other ones I forgot to take a picture of and gave them away as usually happens to my work.
It gives me joy and purpose, both to knit and to give.

The little coat for Freyja.

2009-06-07T00:20:00.003Z

The coat I made for Freyja was made from Icelandic wool, but of course.
Freyja is the Icelandic mythology name for the woman who posessed power, insight and the eternal magic that comes with being a woman.
This little coat for a two year old, with such a powerful name fits her perfectly.
Greetings to all women friends far and near.

The hidden message

2009-06-06T23:11:00.005Z

Guess what.
I just found out that there was more to Robb's mothers day card than the instructions.
It was a message for a happy mother's day in Icelandic.
Painted with lemon juice, heated with iron, and voila!
Nice !

The little coat for Ýmir

2009-06-06T02:35:00.001Z

This little jacket is made of wool, for a wonderful little boy named Ýmir.
He is only about 5 months old, should fit him now.

Happy early summer

2009-05-26T23:14:00.002Z

I have to share a card that my daughter sent for mother's day.
It was painted in lemon juice so it needed to be heated.
Robb was kind enough to send instructions.
It came out really nice after heating.
Look !

Tryggvi has started his own blog

2009-04-08T18:06:00.004Z

My husband has been quite creative lately
He has made these really nice portraits of family and friends.
I think he is doing so well.
I like all of them, but especially the beer tasters from the Czech Republic.
Look at Tryggvi's art

Dreamlit dolls - Mary Lou

2009-02-01T22:24:00.002Z

Mary Louisa is a woman who I have been connected to through the blog world. She lives in New Jersey and studied in Iceland. She creates amazing dolls and has a really cool website. Look at this lovely Hummingbird doll, one of Mary Lou's creations.

I have started working in leather and suede.

2009-01-12T19:39:00.003Z

This suede purse is about 25x30 cm.
It went to my friend Halla who is such a fun woman and deserves all good things.
She will start her dream group next week, and I will be in it.
Look at her wonderful studio on her website, Dreams and Tarot.

This purse, was made for Robb, my Elin's boyfriend.
Robb is a wonderful person, a talented artist and hopefully a soon to be a publisher of a self written and illustrated book.
Robb dear, I keep my fingers and toes crossed.

Happy New Year 2009

2009-01-01T15:51:00.002Z

Peace, progress and prosperity, I wish you
May all your dreams come true
I see your bright career
When I come to see you in your busy clinic
Sometime in the future
may be with a broken heart
Please just don't turn away
For your good memories are saved in my heart
and mind forever.

Ratna Lama

Merry Christmas to you all

2008-12-25T15:00:00.004Z

Merry Christmas to all of my friends near and far. May the season bring you joy and peace. Thank you for all the good moments from the past. Happy New Year 2009.

A new sweater for Constance Muller

2008-11-06T06:43:00.003Z

There is a whole invisible community of people in the blog world. People who are connected by the internet, share ideas and friendship, write to each other and support one another.
It reminds me of the existence of elves in Iceland.
Everybody knows they are there, almost nobody has seen them, but sometimes you just know of them (after all, you have to believe), and a few people can communicate with them. I am not one of those, so the blog will have to do for me.
I met Constance Muller through through her site.
She is a keen blogger and a lovely person. She makes wonderful Floralinas and other mixed media, soft wonders. She is the creator of Birdalina, if you remember my beautiful little handbag she sent to me last year.
This is a sweater I just made for Constance.
I hope Texas can sometimes be cold enough to use it.
Thanks for your bog, and thanks for your friendship Constance.

Johanna's shrug

2008-10-15T23:30:00.003Z

Sweet Johanna ( my husband's niece) just turned 17 the other day. I made her this shrug, which can be worn with frill overflowing or tucked in. The yarn is Noro, pure wool. She looks good, doesn't she?

The case for glasses

2008-09-27T21:34:00.002Z

My sewing machine did put this together one day.
Now it belongs to Pat (Emily´s mom) in New York.

Robb and Elin

2008-09-27T00:34:00.002Z

Elin was here for the whole of summer.
It was so good to have her in the house.
Robb came over and got this traditional Icelandic cardigan.
Good luck with your wonderful book Robb.

The shawl for Barada

2008-09-27T00:31:00.002Z

My friend Barada was here last month.
What a treat to have someone like her for a visit.
I made her this shawl.

July 18th midnight sky

2008-07-19T20:12:00.003Z

The sky can be magnificent in Iceland.
This is the sky last night at midnight.
Isn´t it beautiful?

2008-07-17T01:23:00.003Z

Here I am, after a long pause. Probably you have all given up on me.
I have a few days off and am thoroughly enjoying it.
These paintings are some new items, they are in fact product of the course which ended in May. I know, it has been a while.
I hope you are all having a great time.

The old coffee pot.

2008-03-09T11:03:00.002Z

With moving back to Iceland it has been a struggle again to find time for painting and such.
I went back to a course to get me started again.
The teacher is Þorri Hringsson. A really talented artist who patiently keeps us at our exercise.
My first assignment was to paint this old coffee pot.

Mushroom skirt

2008-03-07T21:21:00.002Z

Another skirt ! Double batik color, with mushroom applique.

My new skirts

2008-03-01T09:17:00.002Z

One of my hobbies is to work with textile.
These are some 3 of my latest creations.

Chris Gallego

2008-02-01T02:19:00.000Z

The person who has been my most influential and dearest teacher is Chris Gallego.

His pictures are unique and very well done.

He has a way of taking ordinary things and transforming them into poetry on canvas or paper.

Such wonders he creates. Look at the nest he painted.

Hies web site at http://chrisgallego.com/

Happy new year 2008

2008-01-01T16:24:00.001Z

The sky can be magical in the Icelandic winter.
This mountain is Esja, the local mountain of Reykjavik.
I managed to caputre this small glimpse of sunshine shining on top of the mountain on one of the darkest days of the year.
I wish you all the same magic for the new year.
May the light shine on your dreams and wishes.
I wish you peace and love in 2008.

Snow on Christmas Day

2007-12-27T21:15:00.000Z

It snowed on Christmas day.
Me and Tryggvi used the opportunity to make a snow mermaid.
It was the perfect snow to build from. Such wet heavy texture.

2007-11-11T11:07:00.000Z

This week my friend Sveina came for a visit. She brought me these wonderful flowers. Look at Lela, she thought they were for her!

Back in Iceland

2007-10-28T09:01:00.000Z

Thanks everyone who has left a comment on my blog lately.
I have been terribly inactive in my art making and busy with work and the move.
Now back in Iceland, I plan to improve in this area. Maybe I will even pick up crafts and the oil paint again.
My trip to Japan was wonderful in all aspects.
The psychogeriatric conference was excellent and my 3 days with Elin were magical.
I send a picture of her and her boyfriend Robb doing a bubble blowing contest on the train and some folded origami cranes in the Ueno Zoo.
Much love to everyone.

Off to Japan

2007-10-11T23:46:00.000Z

I have to get up at 4 in the morning.
I am off to Japan and hopefully I will be able to take some photos.
The purpose is to attend a psychogeriatric conference, see Elin and do some shopping.
See you after 12 days.

Lela who stole the show

2007-10-01T22:08:00.000Z

Lela did go to that party. She was the prettiest girl that evening. See the picture. She is the best, and from the gleam in her eye, you can see that she knows it. All the flirting and the kicking of heels was not documented, but she was the queen of the night.
Constance, do you recognize your girl ?

Lela Birdalina

2007-09-26T22:21:00.000Z

I present to you, the magnificent Lela, the prettiest birdalina I have ever seen. She arrived on my doorstep this evening in a brown cardboard box.

She sprang out of the box with a gusto. Poor Lela, she has been back and forth to her mom Constance twice. But Lela arrived this evening in good spirits, she documented the time when she came out of the box. Lela likes her new kitchen clock so she wanted to have a picture of the time.

Lela did a bit of flamenco on my kitchen table, she did spin around and ended the show on the kitchen fish. This flying fish has been adopted by Lela as means of transportation here in Reykjavik. After that, she decided to have a bit of honey.

After her debut on Icelandic grounds, she has gone to sleep in a dish, shaped as a fish. She has a bit of difficulty with the smell of sulfur (the hot water is geothermal) and she sleeps with a cute lavender sachet next to her pillow to mask the new fragrance of volcanoes and burning earth.
Her blanket is an antique linen napkin from Vienna.
Lela, being a creature of fierce emotions and strong will, has decided that her new country is all right for her. She is a volcano at heart and plans to continue her ways.
Thanks dear dear Constance for your special creation. Thanks also for the little lavender sachets and the rose and the lovely card.
I will take Lela to a party next weekend. More of Lela after that.

2007-09-24T22:41:00.000Z

My first solo exhibition opened today.
It is in an optic shop in Hafnarfjörður near Reykjavik.
Some very innovative and nice people own the shop which is in an old house in this beautiful town. Part of the shop is reserved for exhibition.
My exhibition has been a total success so far, I have sold most of my work.
Thanks everyone for being so supportive and nice to me on this special day.
The tiny lady in gray is my mom with Anna her best friend. The guy in white coat is Tryggvi my husband the the other guy with him is my sister´s husband, Leifur.

Moa's chrysalis

2007-09-18T23:20:00.000Z

There is an Icelandic woman in New Jersey, named Móa. She sent me this beautiful little chrysalis.
It is like it has just popped out of the rose. It stays in my kitchen window,
and watches the kids upstairs play in the garden. Thank you Móa. I love it !!

Husid - The folk museum by the sea

2007-09-12T18:45:00.000Z

There is a place on the south coast of Iceland called Eyrarbakki.
It has a little museum called Husid or The House.
It is an old house with many items and articles from old times.
I am old enough to remember some of them.

Good old Reykjavik

2007-08-28T07:06:00.000Z

I have moved back to my old country Iceland.
My energy lately, has gone into my new apartment and making arrangements for a job.
The weather has been lovely. It is cool, but clear.
Here are some pictures from the old part of Reykjavik.

2007-08-08T17:53:00.001Z

My furniture are all gone into a huge container.
Next week my home will be Iceland once more after 16 years away.
It will feel strange I am sure, like moving to a new country.
Hopefully my creativity will continue in the new place.
I am mentally saying good bye to Vienna, my home for the last 7 years.
Those are some pictures from my neighborhood, the 4th district.

A painting for the "Moon Lady"

2007-08-05T05:24:00.000Z

The Painting for Constance is finished. I just hope that she likes it. It was, upon her request, supposed to reflect a bird and a full moon.
What a symbolic theme for Constance who is sensitive, bright, warm and full of creativity, like a full, flowing moon.
It is fun to have friends on the internet. How amazing to be in touch with like minds in all corners of the earth. Contrary to my previous belief, Constnance does not live in California, but in New Jersey! I should have known, it is indicated on her blog.

2007-07-28T15:34:00.000Z

Now that I am in the process of making a painting for dear Constance in California, I find myself warming up by doing some quick things again. Maybe I should try to stay still for a while and see what happens. Anyway those pictures were born last week.

2007-07-19T21:40:00.000Z

This landscape, ocean fantasy I just painted
Possibly a bit out of focus.
Maybe that is a good thing :-)
Oil on canvas, 23x30 cm

2007-07-19T19:47:00.000Z

It is so much fun to move the brush and see what happens.
This image is noone special. Just a face that appeared.
Oil on canvas, 50x60 cm.

2007-07-11T14:54:00.000Z

Two more portraits.
Oil on paper.
Fantasy faces in fact.

2007-07-11T07:47:00.000Z

I just knitted a bag and felted. With my multiple felting needle which I bought in Japan, I felted some flowers and leaves onto the bag.

Angels for Brianna

2007-07-04T21:05:00.000Z

A young girl named Brianna has just died after battling leukemia.
She lived in California with her loving family. She was only 17 years old when she passed on.
How young to die, but she was truly loved.
My sincere condolences to her family.

There is an auction being organized for Brianna.
Her memory will continue to live in the hearts of artists who participate in this auction. http://www.angelsforbrianna.blogspot.com/
We all make an angel which will be auctioned off for fund raising. Thanks to the people organizing this to give us an opportunity to participate.
This is my angel for Brianna.
It is made of linen and cotton, has fresh water pearls for eyes, feathery hair, coral mouth and suede shoes.

2007-06-29T21:11:00.001Z

Here is a tea cosy I knitted and washed. After that I used a felting technique to create an underwater environment on it. It keeps the tea warm.

2007-06-26T10:33:00.000Z

I made a great art exhange with my friend Ulla in California.
She got my pigeon painting and she sent me one of her beautiful necklaces.
Thanks Ulla, I love it !!!!

2007-06-23T06:59:00.000Z

Elin my daughter. The love of my life.
Quick sketches. Oil on paper. It dries terribly qickly. You have to move fast.

2007-06-13T20:09:00.001Z

Some very quick sketches.
Oil on paper.

2007-06-04T16:36:00.000Z

Oil on paper doesn't really work that well acturally.
I tried to do some very quick sketches on paper.
Only 2 minutes each or so.
It was fun!

2007-06-01T08:36:00.000Z

I panited this one with very wet mixture of water mixed oil. It has some interesting leaks here and there. To me it looks like a couple leaning against each other. It is 50 x 50 cm.

2007-06-01T08:31:00.000Z

This one just somehow popped out of the landscape (20x20 cm). It is the spirit of nature, or the living conscious.
Or maybe just '' kall nátturunnar'' !

2007-06-01T08:23:00.000Z

Here are some of my latest paintings.
the purple and the yellow are only 20x20 cm and the first one is 24x30 cm.

2007-05-24T20:02:00.000Z

I know some lovely people in Japan.
The Shidara family.
Michiko is an artist. You can see some of her calligraphy, collage on antique and other lovely creations. She presented Elin with this wonderful antique kimono. It should be folded in a special way too. Thank you Michiko for a lovely day.

2007-05-23T20:18:00.000Z

This is only 20x20 cm.
And still availavble.

2007-05-15T18:51:00.000Z

These are 23x30 cm.
Some imaginary images from Iceland.

2007-05-13T15:39:00.000Z

One of my favorite places is Cesky Krumlow in south Bohemia. We were there yesterday and enjoyed the beautiful spring day.
See the spirit of old times is still there, like Schiele has just left!

2007-05-13T15:00:00.000Z

This one just happened!
It is painted over a random splattering of gesso, somehow the bee emerged out of the canvas.
Size: 23x30 cm.

2007-05-12T21:30:00.000Z

Small picture that I gave to Keiko when I was in Japan.
It is only 25x25 cm, oil on canvas.

2007-05-02T04:23:00.000Z

Here are some pictures from Japan.
I was there for few days and had a great time with Elin, my daughter.
The sushi is made of plastic!
Have a great week everyone.

2007-04-19T21:56:00.000Z

Those little baby jackets are meant some very young friends.
One is not even born yet.

2007-04-14T14:36:00.000Z

This is my latest painting.
It is only 30x24 cm.

2007-04-09T09:53:00.000Z

I took a one day workshop with Sara Lechner this weekend.
She is an amazing artist and does wonderful mixed media textile fantasies.
Those 2 I did in the workshop.
I used silk paint on Vliesofix, lace clippings, yarn, palliettes, threads, hospital gauze, tiulle, burned fabric and heat damaged tissues etc, etc, etc.
It seems like you can use anything!
See Sara's work on my link "Sara Lechner"

2007-04-08T12:24:00.000Z

People on the sea shore.
Another oil painting.

2007-04-01T17:46:00.000Z

My new bed cover is almost finished.
I love to build moods in fabric and colors.
These 3,5x3,5" squares have been my favorite for 10 years.

2007-04-01T17:44:00.000Z

This is a large painting that I have been working on.

2007-04-01T17:37:00.000Z

I have been knitting and felting some tea cosies from Icelandic wool.
I just need some more colors.

From a German childrens book from 1954

2007-03-31T22:43:00.000Z

I thought these illustrations were so lovely. They are from a book I that found in an antique book store in Vienna.

More paintings

2007-02-18T08:23:00.002Z

Female torso

2007-02-11T10:03:00.000Z

Spring is here in Vienna but this picture has captured mood of last winter

2007-02-11T09:31:00.000Z

This is me, Erla

2007-02-02T22:32:00.000Z

2007-01-28T21:58:00.000Z

Óðinn og Freki

2007-01-28T21:33:00.000Z

Óðinn, Vé og Vili

2007-01-28T21:08:00.000Z

2007-01-28T20:45:00.000Z