This week has for sure had it’s up’s and down’s! First proper week after the start in Notodden.
Digital teaching on Monday and Thursday. Mondays are easier because it isn’t so much book related as it us on Thursdays. Tuesdays are only digital if we need help with a practical task.
I haven’t found a good rhythm yet… Which I really need especially on Thursdays.
But thanks to the Lord I have House Church on Thursday evening 🙌🙏✝️.
Wednesday the 27th of August I went by the school I have signed contract with to work extra at, because I had some questions. After meeting with the principal I headed towards the city. Praying ” Lord I don’t want to ask you for sick teachers but for opportunities to work when in need. I will get crazy if I don’t get any hours.”
Friday the 29th of August I finally had 3 lessons as a substitute teacher in art&craft 🤩.
September 12th.
The weeks pasts so fast. It’s a month since I started this education 🤪. I have realised that sewing can work on Thursdays. I will work on something private that doesn’t have anything to do with my studies.
Today (12th of September) I finally received a positive message from the loan found here in Norway. I will get some support for my studies. The Lord still need to provide for me, but I trust Him. He has provided for me step by step until now. Can’t stop Trusting Him now.
Monday 11th of August. Lot’s of information and I had to little sleep on the train, so my day ended early.
Tuesday 12th. First day with practical tasks. Material: clay. Get to know about different types of clay. Make a vase.
Sausage techniques. Last try to save my vase…
I stayed in an Airbnb this week with this view;
I have had good temperature in the evenings 😊 and been using the verandra here to both dinner and two mornings with breakfast.
Wednesday 13th. More clay. Fun but my challenges are my injury to my wrist. I like to show I can do the task and I do my best yet I do it to much 😟😟.
Lighthouse. Minimum 300mm high on one side, minimum 150mm on an other side. Decoration is one criteria and a roof. This is my lighthouse from start to finish.
The start, clay plate after rolling.Cut out after drawing. Fixing the edges. Glue sides together with wet clay “glue”.Finding the right place for the roof and “glue” it there.
Thursday 14th. Knitting and finishing up with my lighthouse.
Knitting a dog with knitting pattern. Measuring the distance between the stripes. Hand drawing the decoration stripes so it looks like standing wood panel.Hand drawing the decorations on the drying clay. Roof and front. Making the edges smoother.
Friday 15th. Weaving on cardboard. We got a cardboard 10 by 10 cm and to it we got instructions on how to make a loom and what all the threads are called on the loom.
Making the loom with cardboard 10 by 10 cm.
How to make the loom with yarn.
The start on the loom.
We were lucky to finish earlier than planned, at 1:15 PM instead of 2 PM. For me, that meant waiting for the bus for a little over an hour, but it was +24 degrees outside and light clouds 😊. So basically perfect weather for waiting.
Three of the days I stayed in the workshop after teaching hours to continue working on a task. A luxury to be able to use the workshop! A good experience and something I miss a lot during the summer break.
Even if I understood when I applied to this program, it would be a lot to do, I think I thought we would have a bit more time to work on the tasks at home. In the schedule we have two day’s without digital teaching, those two day’s I have chosen to work just because I know I need the break from ” home work ” and I need to see people. I have a plan on when to work on my ” home work ” and hoping it will work good in reality too 🤞.
Everything isn’t easy just because I got into my dream education. Oh no! I struggling to upload documents towards the loan fund 🤪😟. I’ve tried so many times those latest day’s I get nuts… but I trust the Lord it will work out in the end ✝️. He has provided me so far in life 🙏. The Lord helped me to get in to my dream education even after I got in to the wrong one 😊🙏.
In the middle of all this I have my focus on the lord because that’s all I can do and not freak out. I focus on things that makes me happy.
Today, Saturday 9th of August, I focused on shopping and finding things I need next week. I will pack and sew (and as soon as possible have dinner 😆😆 so hungry right now I can’t even stand 😆😆) . Yes I need to sew 🧵✂️ to relax my brain 😊. My newest project is the jeans jacket 😆😆. I have unpicked it because I wasn’t satisfied with the look.
The finished jeans jacket in April-25.
The new version of the ” jeans jacket “
“Just some major changes ” are done 😆😆…
Or a lot 😆😆. I have kept the sleeves and the (kragen) from the first jacket. It’s a total new look. Fit’s me better. I’m so much more happy with this look. Now it makes me happy and comfortable.
The front with new pockets.
The back.
I haven’t decided if I should have pockets in the back yet. We will see.
Sunday 10th (of August). I have unpacked, sewing on som reflection fabric, so cars will see me better in the dark (whenever I use this backpacker). Repacked all things I need with me. Done the nessasary washing up dishes, soon dinner and maybe a strong coffee at home or later. Packed “train-food” because on the last trip I had I got super hungry at 4am and bought a sandwich which I thought I could eat, but got so much cramps in my stomach 😟😟. I had pain for hours 😟😟. I have now brought my own sandwiches. Dinner in few minutes 😊.
And then off to church, which was just what I needed 😊🙏. The peace and the worship 🎶🎶🎶 😊. A good preaching I understood and gave meaning.
I have prepared myself for the train trip with a blanket, warm clothes. Because as last trip I was so so cold. Freezing 🥶🥶 on the train, with normal clothes on 😟😟.
Now, 20.40, I’m just waiting in a stair at Church for the time to past, so I can catch a bus down to the train station and wait there.
Waiting in the stairs in Church…
Night snacks b4 the train leaves.
Night-train towards Notodden at 22.15 pm with a change in the middle of nowhere called Nordagutu for 39 minutes at 05.25 am. Before I arrives Notodden early, 06.26 am!
This time I’m prepared 😊.
Monday 11th of August. 05:26 am I arrived Nordagutu and the temperature was +11°C 🥶 or fresh 😆😆. Had a sandwich until next train arrived the station.
A 30 minutes trip by train to Notodden.
In Notodden, I thought I would look for a strong cup of coffee the first thing. But I was to cold cause lack of sleep so I say at the bus hub for 1 hour and 15 minutes waiting for the bus to arrive.
Catch local bus number 1, 5 stops. Asked a local man for help how to walk to theuniversity. It was helpful! Google maps said it should take 14min to walk downhill. I used 15 min cause of my to bad knees. Totally okay walk through some forest.
Arriving the university…
Got here 😊.
And now I’m resting my head, eyes and body in a couch 😊😊. Asked at the service front if it was possible to set my backpacker somewhere during the day, instead of carrying it around all day. I will now try to take a power-nap. The official day starts 09.30 am.
What most people I know did in their twenties, study at a University, because that’s how society tradition looks like. I out burned myself in that time of life. Was to sick for work for 5 years. And when I finally could work I could not work 100%. I have been working everything between 50 % and 80 % for fifteen years. My brain had still issues to cope with to much stress. But I have been working 100% the past two years and my brain cope 😊. It only took me twenty two years to get back 🤪.
This spring has been most interesting because I have applied to uni (university). And the waiting on “will I get in or not?” And make sure I always have something to do instead of worrying has been long! I applied in March and would get the results the 20th of July.
The Lord has prepared me for this period in life for the past four years.
I received a message, that I got in. Yay happiness for a very short moment 😆😅. Some where something went wrong 🤪😅. I know I double checked that I had applied to the right program. Anyway I got into a program I really don’t want to take!😆😆. So on the 20th of July I applied on rest spots. “🤞🤞🤞🙏🙏🙏 please let me get in”.
Deadline for the answer on the rest spots is 31st of July. So my holiday in Sweden was perfect so I would not think to much.
Today is the 30th of July. 4.40 pm I got a txt message that I had a message from the company my application goes through here in Norway. I was surprised that I had a message already! And you know, I got one of the rest spots 🙏🙏🙏🤩🤩🤩.
Teacher Education, a master (5 years), art&craft 😍.
The Lord knew. He had his plan. He knows what is perfect for me. ✝️🙏
I am so happy and thankful that is my turn to do university. It’s full-time, online and gathering studies, a master (5 years). My plan is to work two days a week and be online with my program three day’s a week. Find a café or a library. I’m so motivated. Looking forward this new phase of my life!
Always Trusting in my Lord because he provides for me.
Friday 25th I had to do some changes on my trip. From having a plan to catch the bus-for-train and then train back home on Saturday 1pm,to receive an email with information that that specific train was cancelled because of some issues on the track. I just don’t do bus (because of my injury knee), so I cancelled the ticket and bought a new one for Sunday. And got more time to spend with my friend C and her family 😊😊.
So here comes Saturday 26th…I woke up 6 am 🤪 an okay day 🌡- vice, with only +21 at 9 am and nit more than +25 as the warmest 😊.
I went shopping with my friend C. Helping her to get “the perfect feeling” off the bathroom off hers. We went to eight stores to find thee basket 🤪😆, rectangular basket she had in mind.
She ended up with both round and rectangular and she just realised that’s how it is when the fashion changes and your brain don’t. We had good laugh at that 😆.
The evening past and closer to 5 pm we finally went for a swim in Nøklevann which is a lake in Oslo – Bøler suburb.
I swam approxy 200 meters (good for me) who hasn’t been swimming for at least 6 months and the last time I swam proper was in a pool with work.
I miss swimming, think I am gonna try that this year. Anyway.
Saturday 26th.
After my good swim I just walked in the water while I waited on the others to get up.
My potato salad with lots of green veggie and pumpkin seeds and oil.
Sunday 27th.
Slow Sunday and ice cream. Metro Bøler – Oslo at 8.54 pm.
All day was medium hot with a temperature between +21 and +26°C. I catch the metro at 8.54 pm to get down to the track for bus-for-train in good time. More then 30 minutes until the bus would go.
But it actually went down to +24°C at 10 pm, when we stood in line of a que to get on the bus-for-train towards Kongsberg.
Track 19 on one side and track 30 to 36 and bus-for-train on the other side.
The bus-for-train arrived Kongsberg 11.15 pm and we were lucky to travel by train 😊 to Stavanger. It was freezing cold on the train. I think it’s okay to get the temperature to drop a bit. But almost every second person had warm clothes on or a light blanket to not freeze. And I have to that’s crazy!
We arrived 20 minutes earlier than planned, which was 07.05 am. It was raining and only +15°C outdoors 🥶🥶🥶. And offcourse it didn’t help I was tired, had slept bad and was cold from the train.
But I catch an earlier local bus home. Had coffee and breakfast at home 😊. And a blessed power-nap of 1 hour and 30 minutes 🤩. I had to come home latest Monday because I had an appointment.
A short walk between the X-ray and the nearest tiny mall and meeting with my friend.
The rest of the day I walked a lot to stay awake 😆. Had a chai latte with a friend I haven’t seen in a year in Sandnes 😊. In my favourite café of Espressohouse.
Today we checking out from our lovely apartment hotel…
A bit stressed to take a picture from checking out…
I woke up this morning with a text message from the company I should travel with tomorrow. They have some issues with the train tracks.. 😔. And today find a new tick was hard. I guess many people was trying at the same time 🤪.
We took the bus into the train station and found a locker to okay price off 69sek t hour and if you need more time you pay 69 sek / hour after that. Maximum payment is 299 sek for 24 hours.
We catch a tram (number 6 or 9 (I don’t remember). On the way out of the tram I got a hotflush 🥵🥵 . I didn’t have time to say anything to Annica so she started to walk to the shop we had planned while I tried to just past the tram track 🤪😔😵💫🤢. Because I was dizzy & nauseas.
But we got what we needed a bit later 😆 than planned. We had lunch at MAX Burger, a must for me when I’m in Sweden.
2.20 pm we huged and said goodbye and will travel back home. Me first to Oslo where I will stay with friends I haven’t seen for four years. And my friend Annica travel back to her family.
Bye bye Gothenburg this time.
Hello Oslo.
Arriving Oslo 6 pm and it was as hot as in Gothenburg 🥵. But it was nice to take the metro east bound to my friend and her family in the suburb Bøler. Just enjoying being with friends I haven’t seen in four years. Eat late dinner and talk about things.
You know the feeling when you really want to sleep in long and just can’t. That’s how this holiday in Gothenburghas been so far 😆😆. Normally I can sleep longer but then I also managed to be up late 😆. But when you have activities almost all day long you actually get tired early.
It’s the fourth day with my best friend Annica in Gothenburg. New things to explore. Today we went to Mölndals Kvarnby – the mill village of Mölndal.
The start of the climbing up hills in the high temperature of +25 around11.40 am and later +27° (but it felt like +30° C.
I was about to melt away when we walked up the slopes to Mölndals Kvarnby. Farthest up the hill was a secondhand shop. My friend Annica wanted to go in so I joined her. Oh, luck it was 😊, because inside I found a blouse that was perfectly thin for this heat!
The blouse from 2ndhand
Here I have it on, on the way towards Oslo 😉
Walking down hills in between houses.Lunch at Sushi King Mölndal. This is just some information in English. About the textile and oil industry here in Mölndal. Contact information in English. More information in English.
While we were waiting on the tram into Gothenburg center again we changed our plans from Church Safari to just go to one store and head back to the hotel. One of the reasons was my sad back and thirty minutes later the sudden rain 😆😆.
The good thing with the rain was at least one thing. I got to use my rain jacket when the sky suddenly opened up.
Some thunderstorm today too. But still warm enough to not get cold.
After a cup of coffee when we got back to the hotel (around4 pm), and a power-nap for both me and my friend Annica we had late dinner. And went for a walk in the neighbourhood to the hotel. Here are those photos 😉.
From the opposite side of the Waterfront Cabins. The pire shaped bridge in the background. The bridge we past every time to get into the city. Just a cool colourful building. Ferry port.Me with “the giraffes” in the background 😉Beautiful sky and clouds. Picture taken between 8 and 9 pm.Be serious or not… selfie-time 😉.How to “catch” the “giraffe” in the background…Laughing cramps and the “giraffe”…Last picture, try to look “normal us”.Art. Art and building. Art pillar. Walking path and art.
We have had a wonderful holiday here in Gothenburg! We have taken the day’s as they came with exploring in the hot weather 🥵. Done the most out of it as it fit us. We are pleased and tomorrow is departing day.
Hope you enjoy reading about what we have done and that you will get some tips on what to do if you choose to go to Gothenburg!
Starting later today but with breakfast and Coffee on the “balcony”. It’s a bit more grey clouds this morning but the around the same temperature (+23°C) 10 am.
Today’s goal is the botanical garden. Something the both of us love. I don’t have much that looks like a garden at home… but always dream of something I can make a garden in or off. And today we’ll walk in a huge garden and receive even more idea’s or just inspiration for a future garden 😉.
The weather forecast today is grey and cloudy but it’s predicted to be up to +28°C even today. A good day for this kind of adventure!
We catch a local bus down to Brunnsparken and switch to a tram towards The botanical garden. We took tram nr 2.From the tram stop, you walk up to the main road and past it (walk over). And on this side of the road you find this sign.On your walk (straight ahead) you past those (cute) interesting houses with decor. The entrance to the botanical garden.
This is the area = the garden.
Information in English.
Information in German.
We past the gates 12pm. And stroll slowly through this magnificent garden. We had really good weather! A good combination of ⛅️🌤☀️ and wind and a temperature between +23° and +26°C.
And here are some of the flowers I liked…
The botanical garden. 😊
Through the school garden and interesting tree garden…
… I had to stop to cool down my feet’s…
” Over heated feet’s “
Our lunch around 2pm in the shadow 😊.
After the lunch we walked towards the Japanese garden.
And when we came to a fence we thought we would end up in an other smaller garden but we didn’t 😆. We walked through the Nature Reserve and ended up in a street with houses 😆😆 and had to walk back the to the garden once more.
The Nature Reserve.
And now it was time for 🚻 (toilet facility) and water to cool down, rest on the grass and ice cream. And a kind-of-power-nap in the grass.
While laying in the grass the wind got stronger and suddenly we heard the thunderstorm getting closer. (Around 3 – 3.30 pm). And had to walk faster to not get wet from the sudden 🌧 rain 😆.
Tram back into the city but not to Nordstan, butto Grønsakstorget (the vegitable square). Rain pooring down and yes we didn’t take our Rain jacket with us 😆. Grocery shopping and walking in the rain to the closest tram stop to get back to the hotel.
On the tram back into the city.
Waiting on a tram after grocery shopping.
Late dinner out on our ” balcony ” and yatzy with wine in the chill breeze after the thunderstorm and rainbow 😊. A perfect evening!
Our plan yesterday was to sleep in, but no I woke up 7 am and couldn’t sleep more 😆😆. Annica was awake maybe ten minutes later. We had an early breakfast and coffee. Took things like it came. No stress just relaxing.
Around 11 am we headed into the city. I had something I needed to do. The reason for this trip for me.
This is so Swedish!
Had lunch at Deg_pizzeria …
…which was really good and tasty! Totally recommend if you visit Gothenburg .
Walked around in the city…
Street art on a garage door.
Street art on the way into a mall.
Funny sign.
Instead of an icecream that would melt before you started on it, we bought each ice tea Mango + Mojito. Really good! At Espressohouse.
Continued to explore. I found and bought a shell jacket on sale 😊🤩. Got some necessary things you need during a stay on holiday. And last stop was the liquidstore (which is a special store just for alcoholic liquid and where you have to be 20 years old both in Sweden and Norway) where we got each bottle if wine. Me white wine and a new ale and Annica red wine.
Red & white, one for each taste. Trying a new ale.
Monday July 21st. Switching from the train to the bus 06.10 am and it was raining 🤪 but luckily the ☀️ was up in Oslo 07.30 am.
Good morning Oslo.
07.55 am. Espressohouse.
Here am I normally have my breakfast when I travel. But they didn’t have my favourite so I have to be satisfied with just a simple espresso. And maybe that’s smart after the sandwich I had on the train… because my stomach is upset.
I have one and a half hour in total here at the train station hub until I have to catch the bus to Gothenburg at 9 am (one hour from now).
Central Station Gothenburg.
It’s warm. +27°C , 1 pm.
I will just find a place to sit and wait on my best friend from (childhood) Sweden. She arrives 1.30 pm. The breeze is nice so this will be perfect.
….
Me and my best friend Annica (since 1989).
We had lunch in the city after both of us been traveling we were starving. Ate at BK (Burger King). Bought tickets and headed towards the Waterfront Cabin Hotel which is placed next to the water with a lovely view!
Our home for 4 nights. Waterfront cabins.
We have settled in and got our coffee and can now make plans for this evening and tomorrow.
After check-in and some food we headed into the city again, around6 pm, even if we to tired to do much 😆😆😅..
Got back by bus. Made dinner and after both if us got annoyed on the (a bit to small couch for two aduldt ladies above 5″9) we moved it 😆😅. The appointment we have rent for four nights is perfect for this kind of trip/Holiday. It has some challenges if you as us are tall people 😅. But for the most it works.
To be able to stay awake at least until 11 pm we found some series to watch. Then it was good night!
Vassøy. Thursday July 17th. The day started at 09.30 am for me and the 🌡temperature was already +21°C ⛅️. I catch the first 🚍local bus 11.48 am [number 7 from Sola] down to the city centre of Stavanger. It takes approx 18min. A short busride off two stops, [with number 1], just because it goes faster than walking 😆😆. And then catching the ferry towards Vassøy island.
Ferry stop 7.
The ferry took about 15 min.
The school of Vassøy.
To get to Vassøykalven beach you just walk forward on Sørstrandveien. It takes between 10 and 15min depending on how fast you walk. It’s only 1 km. You will end up with the beach on your left side or get to a wooden bathing jetty if you walk the small path in the forest.
Vassøykalven beach. Child friendly with permanent grill facilities. Two bathing jetty’s.
The water temperature is okay today. Maybe +20°C.
A bit to much small stones for my taste in the sand while walking out in the water for a swim..
And you need to walk quite far out for the swim 😔 (at least I always needs that 😅). But it’s very Child friendly because of that.
The toilet facility on the left side and the walking path towards the suspension bridge on your right side.
Before we (me and a girlfriend) headed towards the ferry back to Stavanger ferry port we or I wanted to find the walking path for the suspension bridge over to Vassøykalven island (the calf island).
The marking to follow.
This map picture show you where it is. Vassøykalven grill (with the green dot), I didn’t walk there. We got lost 😆😆 but rhus oath led us to this… next picture.
This is Bybrua (the city bridge in Stavanger) from Vassøy island side.
If you walk from the beach towards the toilet facility and then up into the forest on your right side (see picture below) and follow the red paint you will end up at the suspension bridge. It’s no signs more than the red paint “dots”.
On the top of “the hill” before it goes down hill to the bridge.
The suspension bridge.
And on Vassøykalven island you find ruins from some kind of permanent living many (hundred?) years ago.
On the other side of this island it was like a lagoon.
Totally worth a visit! If it warmer than +20°C you can also enjoy a swim in the summer.
I live next to the seaside. A short walk off 3 minutes.
On Friday Jily 11th I got out for a walk a long the beach to explore and enjoy both the weather and the sea. All because it was to warm during the day for me 😅.
A lovely place to sit and enjoy the sea 😊.
On my walk on those big stones along the sea, I was looking for driftwood something I love to create something new off.
Bus from my closest bus stop, Stavanger University Hospital Ullandhaug.
Randaberg.
The 🌡at 11.20 am.
Walking up to the ferry..
Not the Best view 😆😆 on the ferry.
On the way 😉
On the ferry.
We made it.
How to rent a bicycle on the island.
#Paahjul #stavangerkommune #rentabycycle
The first beach few hundred meters from the ferry.
The water here was pretty okay temperature at the public beach.
Area around the lighthouse.
Just me 😉 and maybe some 🐑🐑🐑🐑.
My friends back closest and the lighthouse of Kvitsøy island.
Food break. Sandrenna.
Sandrenna.
Sandrenna.
After the break, we biked away in hope to get to the stone cross. But we were not up for the walk after the 2 km of bicycling (I had only one gear 😅 and lot’s of pain in my legs).
The stone cross is about 4 meter high, you find it at leiasundet, on the far east side of the island. It’s been there for a long time. No one knows how old it us but at least 1000 years.
On our way back to the public beach.
I walked in the water and my friend swam a little. Maybe the water 🌡 was +14 ?🤔.
The ferry port before we left to get to main land again at 3 pm.
We have had a great adventure and exploring the island as much as we had energy for. We are pleased and a bit sun burned 😆. Seen as many 🐑’s as 🏠-es I think. It was perfect to rent a bicycle to get around! And the ferry is for free if you have a monthly card for bus in Nord-Jæren.
This picture shows how we were bicycling on the island ;
The Red was the first part to the lighthouse, the Aqua Green is the second part to our first food break. The Blue is the third part towards the stone cross and the Yellow is back. In total over 6 km.
It’s summer again 😆😆. This summer will I explore the islands outside of Stavanger. If it’s to catch a ferry or a bus, we’ll see 😊.
I will explore and go on adventure both in my neighbourhood and other cities 😊.
I will start and finish projects. My first painting project was my wooden shelf
This picture is from when I lived in Ganddal 2022-23.
Here you see the original colour. While the last 1,5 year, I painted it white inside because it was to dark for me. When I moved to Grannes, I wanted a theme for my kitchen and sofa-corner. Red flower an inspiration for a fabric I have. This last week the end of June andthe first week of July I’ve painted it black on the back side 😉.
Here, from the start in May to finish last week of June-25.
I also needed to make a decision if I should keep the old furniture I’ve used as storage in the kitchen at Midjord or not. And when I realised I still need the storage, I wanted it to be black so it could pop in my small place.
Here are it is from the time in Midjord with other colours 😆.
2023 October – 2025 May.
Too today, finish with black colour around except the inside and backside, which are red.
The colour.
First day of painting.
Day 2 of painting.
Here I’m almost done with painting black and took the inside, red because I need some happy colour too.
Finish 🤩, July 4th.
And between the painting I’ve visit flower gardening
This one, Bjørkespretten, only 2 km from me 😊.
Been to IKEA to find my new shelf…
Been having a visit off this cute neighbour cat 😻.
My newest addition of furnitures, my new shelf 🤩 was delivered 6pm 4th of July 🤩.
This is from my two first weeks of Summer break 2025.
I have been living in my new house/ home for 14 day’s. I have explored where the nearest grocery store is but that one is expensive! I have also found my route from the nearest bus stop coming from work. It’s a 12 minutes walk (fast walk) and approxy 1.1 km with or against the wind.
On the way from the newest Hospital and bus hub. My neighbourhood.
My view when I wait on the morning bus 😊.
Today, May 30th, I went on an adventure to Sola center not very big but they have many shopping opportunities and gas station!
I couldn’t just stand still (in the cold wind) and wait 30 minutes on the bus… when I was done. So I started to walk. I think that is the best way to get to know a new place.
Here I was…
…walking ” towards ” my home pasting bus stop after bus stop… I didn’t walk that far though. But I walked almost 1.5 km with a quiet heavy small backpacker on my shoulders. And in the freezing wind I didn’t want to walk to far away and not knowing where the next bus stop was.
I have been collecting coffee bags for the past two years mostly because I wanted to be able to make something new. Upcycling is a huge part of my sewing. I do it because I like to see what is possible to redesign and how I can make something new from an old product. It has started to become part of my thoughts on sustainability. What can I do with the things I live on and use in my everyday life in a sustainable way?
So, during the last day’s of packing (down) my apartment I realised I had too many blankets 🤪 and needed something or somewhere to put them in my new apartment.
I started to sew coffee bags together, and realised how many I needed 🤪 and actually had 😯😅.
Here am I just sewing bags together.
Here is one of the sides becoming the actual size.
During my sewing I realised I needed stability on the four sides 😅😆. I used old cardboard boxes.
Four of five sides on.
Here us it full with blankets and floor pillows 🤩.
I got exactly what I had need of 🤩😍. I just wished I had a semi-sewing machine 🙂🙃. For those of you who don’t know what a semi-sewing machine is, they have a longer sewing arm for bigger projects 😉. And they are for house hold, the next step in sewing machine is the industry type.
I hope I have inspired some of you to do more out the everyday things you have at home and upcycling for our world’s future!
My Birthday and latest my move 🤪. I live in a mess of boxes again 😆😆😆. This time I had to move for many reasons. But the biggest reason is, because I have applied to the University. And if I get in I will be a student for five years and that means I need a lower rent.
So for you of my followers that are Christians, please pray with me that I get in 🙏✝️.
It was also 17th of May this weekend = Norways National Day.
My Birthday was celebrated two day’s ahead with my Norwegian mother. With quality time, food and wine and 🍓.
I have never been able to find a Jeans jacket with long enough sleeves or long enough in the torso lengt in my size 😔😔. So why not sew my own with my style?
That’s what I’ve started on 😊🤩
The sleeves.
How will this work? (I didn’t understand)
Just the details of the zipper.
Here I found out that the left sleeve got too long because the shoulder was to far out.
Here I needed to pick up the top seam on the left shoulder and resew 1,5cm farther in on the shoulder 🤪. But it worked and made wonder!
The only thing left now is the zipper… I need a “jacket zipper” and I want a red one, just because I can.
It has past a year 😭😭😭😭 since I had to put-him-down at the wet 😭. The tears has come a bit here and there for the past year. More ofter after Christmas 24… I don’t know why.
Today the 23rd, on the day, one year ago we went to the wet because his breathing was really bad 😭😭.
So thankful for the time I got with him! He gave me so much love 💙🐈⬛💙
To write about him, and my tears streaming like someone turn on the tap… I miss him 😭😭😭.
But he comes on visit 💙🐈⬛💙💝.
He did love the walk in his leash 🤩.
2019 -2021 💙🐈⬛💙💝
He really loved his walks 😍. But yet the patient towards me when I didn’t have enough energy 💝💝💝.
I got some used shirts from a friend a while ago. And “what to do with them ?” Well yesterday I needed to sew, but empty on ideas…. Pinterest gave me an idea 😊😊.
Inspiration from Pinterest.
My shirt.
The result.
Happy face.
I turned the shirt inside out, shorten the sleeves and added the leftover sleeves to the length to fit me.
I have used the legs from a pair of jeans and added decoration band, zippers and old T-shirts to make it longer. Like it and can just wait until the weather let’s me use it…
When I saw this and read about it – the documentary – I got inspired again! I did something like this few years ago. I uninstall the apps I felt I used to much time on.
I think I will take a break from some of my social media apps from 10th of February to 10th of March 😉. Maybe you say “why not from today? ” well my excuse is I’m home and sick with fever and I want to give head’s up to you and others 😉.
I’m not on Snapchat so often as it is today so I don’t think I need to uninstall that app. I have been less on Facebook the past 4 months. So I think the hardest will be to not be on Instagram! Even if I don’t use the app more than to share what I have done. I nearly never check what friends has posted so I think I am quite good to not use to much time there. This will be interesting!
Messenger will be an issue! I use Messenger a lot 🤪. Well I hope to see where I use my time and if I can get less hours on my smartphone and what I will do instead.
This last weekend was productive 😊😊. I finished the blue cocktail dress
And I got help from a friend to fix the hem on my summer-curtain dress…
And I sew the waist band after more room on the top part so I can breath…
Walking in gale towards the gym.
And I got out to the gym 🤩🤩. Walked for 20min and then on the treadmill for 10min 💪.
Went through 4 machines and then home.
And last week I started on something new – a challenge – to sew a dress from 2 pair of jeans legs (because I cut off the waist part to the orange skirt).
After almost 3 years of involuntary residence, because of injuries, have I today (18th of January 2025) bought a membership at one of the two biggest gym in Norway 😊. So keen to finally start building up my body again 🤩.
I’ll start today 😊. Start light and easy. I know my limitations.
My goal is still, to have enough energy to go to the gym 3 times a week. And now with my job it will fit to manage Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I am so excited and motivated. I was never at an elite level, but I was involved in athletics as a teenager. So I am used to exercise and love the kick of good energy 😉.
One goal I have is to build up my body so I can go hiking and not get pain in joints. Like I got last summer on this hiking path.
I will be happy as soon as I manage over 60kg again on my knees/ legs. 😊
Last minute skirt which I made in 5 hours 😊😆🤪. I didn’t have a Christmas skirt so at 11pm the 17th of December-24, got I an idea in my head 😆😆. “If I cut a pair of jeans so I can redesign my red wool sweater into a Christmas skirt!” Which I did. I cut the jeans just before I went to bed.
The 18th of December after work I used five hours on sewing the skirt just so I would be able to wear it. 😆😆. It got a bit to short to my long legs 😆😆. But I wear it.
The sweater was a bit to see-through so I added thick wowen cotton fabric under.
Just a bit too short to my length 😆
After love used it I made it longer with the neck part of the sweater 😉.
Here is it in full length on little Christmas eve the 23rd 😉. I travelled in it and that was perfect! It hold me warm 😊.
January 2025, more sewing 😊.
While I am finishing the blue cocktail dress which takes a bit longer time than I thought… Have I upcycling another skirt 😉.
In 2012, I bought my sewing machine and started to sew.
This was once a sweater…
In 2012 the sweater became a skirt.
I just cutter off the neck part on the sweater and put elastic band in the waist.
I was never really satisfied with how it sat on me but it was one of my first upcycling- skirts. I have now upcycling it one more time 😊😊.
The inspiration colour to the second upcycling, black and orange.
Since the first upcycled jeans skirt with a sweater or just random fabric, have I wanted a orange skirt. Now I finally have it 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍.
Once I got a pair of jeans send to me from a person I actually never met. I jeans was with 38″ (inches) and didn’t fit the other person. Those jeans has been hanging in my wardrobe for more than a year… So now it’s time to redesign them!
I started with the decorations Friday 17th.
Purple is the contrast colour to Orange.
I tried with other things first, picked it up and now I go for Black in the front.
I’ll continue sewing on my orange skirt this weekend (17th – 19th of January) so I can use it this spring 😊.
This is a glimpse of my 2024. Lot’s I have done and learn. And 2025 will be an other year of learning more new things!
I am looking forward to what the Lord has for me this year! Challenges or not. Continuing get know my newest friends even better, continuing learning more, challenging myself, become a even better teacher for the future, learn to listen more to the Lord, enjoying life more, get out in the nature more, drive more, sew more!
I wish you all a blessed New Year of 2025 🎇❗️.
I started on a dress yesterday the 31st of December and finishing it today 1st of January 😉.
Christmas day, the 25th. This morning started with rain and plus degrees and very slippery walk to the church service 😆😆
1pm, Priest – my brother and a local brass band and a solo violinist.
The Christmas crib in Haltdalen church.
After the service we went over to my sister in law’s mother for some Christmas brunch that lasted to afternoon 😆😆.
When we got home, there where Tusse in the couch 😊 😻.
The house cat, Tusse.
Later on I sat down with the jigsaw. A jigsaw with 2000 pieces. A good challenge! A Christmas tradition I like.
2nd Christmas day, the 26th.
I started where I left the jigsaw the evening before, now having late breakfast and Coffee with the jigsaw while my brother and sister in law went to the gym. A good one and a half hour alone in the house. Only Tusse was at home sleeping somewhere…
mia-simone. svenberg 