A Desire to Inspire

- Sometimes you have to jump off the bridge and hope to learn to fly on your way down - 

...Some days ago, coming home after a long walk, I suddenly discovered that the traffic on my blog had gone through the roof...I soon found out that I've been so privileged to be mentioned on one of Desire to Inspire's suggested Easter Reading List.... Thank you Jo & Kim!

These girls are two of  the greatest bloggers I know of...I think most of us bloggers do remember well the first weeks of blogging. I was writing in norwegian, I had one(!) follower the first week, very few visits...I felt like giving up...but then I decided to start making contact with some of my favourite bloggers around...and one of the first I wrote to was Desire to Inspire:

> Message: Ok...as I already told Susann from purplearea today, this is like writing to the Pope..so much do I admire your blog. She was laughing. And put me on her blogroll. Oh heaven! Anyway, I love your blog, really inspiring, great articles and photos, and with this newwon confidence thanks to some other great bloggers that I contacted today, I also dare to contact you. I started blogging about 3 weeks ago: My blog: www.zyprezz.blogspot.com - I'd be happy if you take the time to take a look.
>
> I will be posting some articles about my own home and projects later on, just waiting for my new camera, cause my old one is crappy. Really crappy.
>
> Hope to hear from you,
>
> all the best,
>
> Ingrid :)


And here is the answer I recieved, the day after:


...Like writing the POPE???!!! OK, you got someone else laughing at that now.

Your blog is finally our first Z entry in our blogroll!

Thanks Ingrid! And good luck with it...you're off to a great start so far!

Kim

Needless to say, I almost fainted...imagine getting such a reply after 3 weeks of blogging....

It is now 3 months later(... still waiting for that new camera!,) and through the blogging a whole new world of possibilities have come along, I have made new contacts and great friends, and suddenly my life is taking a very new, unexpected turn and direction , that I, just 4 months ago never would have dreamed of...(Yeah, this is about my new project...for those of you who read about it in one of my recent posts..)

Photography by Michael Vincent Manalo

so therefore: this magnet on my fridge is a reminder of on a daily basis to:

I wish you all a great weekend!!

 Ingrid

From Oslo with Love

Good morning! The early bird catches the worm, they say...today my working day start at 06.00. But first, I have to show you this city apartment from my old town: Oslo, where I use to live in my 20's. Oh dear....there have been some great times with a lot of  fun in this city, I promise you...  

Actually, I had a pretty similar apartment at that time, as the one I am presenting to you today. It brings back old memories of  endless hours with redecoration and paint in the hair, eating take-away while sitting on empty wooden boxes.... listening to U2, Bon Jovi, Queen......

Oh well, back to the apartment... I think the owners here have done an amazing job, blending classy designer objects with great art and flea market finds. Cool and individual!

Today I will hopefully catch up with your blogs. I promise! So sorry! AND for those who plan to do some housework during the day : CLICK HERE for some music inspiration.. Have a brilliant day ! XO, Ingrid

All images via BO BEDRE

Brent Comber

I'd like to show you the brilliant works of the canadian artist, Brent Comber. He runs an art and design studio that creates wooden sculptures, functional pieces and design environments. I let his impressive art in the images below speak for itself...See more of his works here.

Retro Melt Fusion - New Life for old Furniture

I stumbled upon Precious.no a few days ago and became speechless. I felt like taking a Tom Cruise on Oprah. I phoned Katherine Schweder, the very sympathic and geniously creative mind of the furniture company... and ohh, did we have a lot in common...and much to talk about.  I have made arrangements to very soon come visit her in the faboulous vintage shop 13.tretten, situated in Tønsberg, Norway, which she runs together with 2 other girls.

After visiting, I will present both Katherine and the shop 13tretten -  more closely here on the blog.

But today, take a look at the stunning furns she "invents". Broken, abandoned items, pieces of furns, left and abandoned to end their days, are reborn and transformed into eclectic, bright and colorful painted items, with new seating, often combined with retro vintage wallpaper- one of a kind items. Some items which get to serve a whole new purpose than the original: New-Life Reuse. Mixing retro styles from the 40's - 70's. Furniture with a twist that cries out: "Hello! Look at me!" and brings smiles on their new owners faces. All her items have very original, witty names followed by an amusing and brilliantly written text.

I have come up with my own expression for her unique, innovative style: Retro Melt Fusion. Pieces of different kind of furniture from different era's of style periods "melt and fuse" together into a new and original expression. I strongly recommend you to take a look at her other items, all made with love, creativeness and geniality. Have a look at more here. Enjoy!!!

NB. I want to point out that the majority of these furniture have been so damaged, broken, and in pieces so that it was no chance to restore them back to their original form. Being a retro teak furniture collector, it was of course one of my questions that I already have discussed with Katherine.

Copyright : Katherine Schweder/Precious.no

Gorgeous Granny Squares

Finally some spare time.... Now I also have the time to go visit you all, my blog friends..I have missed that!

Etsy is killing me right now.... - it is so many talented people out there with wonderful handmade products. So many at my wish list....which is growing...too fast...One of the things I hope to be able to buy...(if she ships abroad) is a blanket with granny squares....or more flowerlike, original and awesome.

I have the deepest respect for these women who have made them, after all, is it a tremendous amount of time they have spent to get it finished. The prices should be 5 times as high, but of course would be hard to sell then. Best one can do as a buyer, I think, is to appreciate it, and take good care of it, whether you put it over the couch, bed, or wrapped around yourself in the sofa on chilly nights....

The first image is to die for....I would LOVE having a jacket like this.....so retro-fantastic!! And the rest....well, have a look and enjoy. I haven't been able to locate the origins of some of the images, but visit Lucy at Attic24 and see her (11!)blankets....Such a talented girl! And Lucy, if you read this, I couldn't find your email adress....hope it is ok to show some of your blankets here....

A lovely Sunday to you all! Xoxo, Ingrid

Busy Days

...I have had a lot of things to do lately. I am working on a very exciting project now, it is a little bit too early to tell about, but I am really busy at the moment...and I love it...!I will come visit you, my dear blogfriends, as soon as I have some time. Meanwhile, I'd like to show you a really beautiful renovated farm, both rustic and modern, with gorgeous details in black, white, nature and concrete....Photos by Morten Holtum...say no more...

A HAPPY EASTER TO YOU ALL! / GOD PÅSKE!

Via Skøna Hem