Younger siblings are... a blessing!

My sister Kajsa is unfortunatley moving back to Skåne this week, after having studied here in Umeå for a year. The class she took at Umeå university was only for a year, and now her continued education (which can not be found up here) is luring her back to Southern Sweden. I'm guessing her friends are a factor as well... =) I very much understand and support her moving to study what she really wants to, but oh how I'm going to miss her!

Taking the last opportunity for probably quite a while to see both his sisters at the same time, our brother Joakim came to town this weekend! Since we've been emptying Kajsa's room for the move, I've had both of them staying with me. Very cozy! =)

Friday we went shopping. Umeå has a small hat shop that is amazing, and both Joakim and Kajsa wanted to look for a new hat. Guess if I found the perfect summerhat for me? Of course I did... A bit expensive for me right now though =( We found a perfect hat for Joakim as well, but not for Kajsa. One had a great shape and fit, another a perfect colour.

I and Kajsa found these cute umbrellas, at HM. (picture taken later, though).

We had tea and cake by the river. Café Station has the great service to provide take-away where you borrow with you a basket and a blanket.

The weather was very co-operative, sunny and warm. I took the opportunity to wear my new blouse.

Joakim have a new camera, a very fancy one that takes amazing pictures. Hence the aboundace of photos from the weekend =)

When we came home, I baked banana-cake for the dance on Saturday. Please ignore the "let's-keep-the hair-out-of-the-cake"-hairdo. And the not so flattering glasses... But voila! One of my new aprons! From Ebay/Tradera.

I think that's it for now. More photos from the rest of the weekend later on!

Love, Erika

Is summer around the corner?

We had a heat wave a few weeks ago, but that seems as distant as last year's summer now. The winter was very long, very cold, and very dark. By now it should be warm, but the heat is a bit slow in coming this year. We are all waiting eagerly =)

In anticipating of warmer weather ahed, I fell head over heels for the blouse above when I found it at Ebay/Tradera. I was a bit sceptic at first, since I don't usually wear orange. Then I thought "what does it go with?". A solid dark blue skirt would be lovely with this blouse, and solid dark blue skirts are the true basics in my wardrobe (seriously, why do I always fall for the blue skirt? It's gone so far that I've forbidden myself to buy any more dark blue clothes or fabrics!). So of course, I had to buy the blouse =)

Another purchase for the summer; short sheer lace socks, from H&M I have to admit. They were too cute to just pass!
The past week I've been working for me very unusual hours (leaving the house at 6 in the morning just isn't right ;) ), and I have one more week on this scheduale. After that I'll hopefully be back among the living! But now it's weekend, and I've had a great weekend so far, Friday was dance-night, yesterday Kajsa came over for sewing and movie-night. We saw The Notebook, a movie I've heard a lot about (and everybody seems to have seen) but that had somehow managed to slip me by. I loved it! If there's anyone reading this who hasn't seen it, I very much recomend it!
Now I'm off to the gym, and then tea with Kattis and then more sewing with Kajsa. Hope you're having a great weekend!
Love, Erika

A book I needed and a card I loved

So, I promised some pictures of the birthday presents, right? This all came from my wonderful mom. It's a book about fitting and altering sewing patterns! Something I really wanted, as I've been having huge problems lately (and therefore haven't finished a garment in forever). I realised a while back that I've never actually done a fitted bodice with sleeves! Sure, I've done a lot of strange medieval clothes, but this very basic piece of sewing I've never actually done. No wonder it was giving me such huge problems!

I'm pretty sure this is very copyright-protected, so I'm just giving you all a glimpse of it. As you can see, it's not just descriptions of how to make a basic pattern, but it's actually included 6 different types of patterns (pants, bodice, coat etc) in different sizes.


The list of contents, doesn't say much unless you read swedish though =) Basically, the book covers shirts, skirts, pants, blouses and dresses, coats, jackets, stretch-material and construction of basic patterns.
I might have mentioned I've decided to take a sewing class coming fall, and this is the book and patterns the teacher of that class recommended for me. Now I'm really on the go. I will learn this! =)

Also, the cute card I got from my mom.
Love, Erika

A swingin' birthday

Sunday the 9th of May was my birthday, and it was a great weekend! Rikard and Johanna, two wonderful teachers from Luleå, came to Umeå to hold classes Saturday and Sunday, and on Saturday evening there was social dancing to live music (a local big band-orchestra). I did pincurls friday night, and took them out in time for the dance. Curly indeed! =) Since spring is finally here in earnest, I chosed a pale green 50s dress I got at Herräng dance camp last summer.


Kajsa was cute in the skirt she made herself and a darling new top (although the top doesn't really show well in the photo...). I did her hair in hot rolls, but we came to the conclusion that for hot rolls to work in her hair it needs to be a great deal shorter. Sure, there was a bend to the ends, but it has that anyway. We'll try again after she's cut it a bit.


As everyone who has tried to capture dancers with a camera knows, it's very tricky. Esp when it's dark! =) But here's a little picture anyway, just to give you all an idea. I must say I thought everybody had done a very good job with their outfits this evening! Remember, this is people who are into lindy, not into vintage. We say that we encourage to an attempt at vintage-inspired; a very mild dress-code with other words. You can see Kajsa in the almost center of the photo, just look for a purple skirt =)

My friends had arranged a little surprise for me: at exactly midnight the band leader said "Before the last song, I'm going to tell a story. A story about a girl that was born at this day..." and then the whole room sang for me! I can't remember the last time that happened. Or ever! Anyway, thank you so much, guys, that was so very sweet of you and it will sure be a birthday to remember!


Coming home from the dance I of course started playing around with hair-do's. I don't want to sit down in front of a movie after dancing, but I have too much energy to just go to sleep. Anyway, I tried the new hair-binds and this is the result. What do you think?


I've always loved the late 30s-look, but assumed it wouldn't work on me (considering my very strong jaw-line). Now I'm seriously considering if maybe next time I go to the hairdresser... What do you think? Cutting it this short would make any of my other favorite hairdo's impossible. But I like this style. And hair grows back really fast. But I like variety as well... Decisions, decisions!


Sunday, when it actually was my birthday, I was so tired after the weekend that a quiet evening with Kajsa was perfect. We had a very nice dinner, and the best china came out of the cupboards.
Sorry for the slow update on posting btw, the camera batteries has died completley. 1 day in the charger - 3 photos taken - another day in the charger - those photos transferred to the computer ... Better late than never, right? =) The pictures of presents and the last results of the shopping spree on ebay will have to wait, though. Until I get new batteries...

Love, Erika

Purse for stockings, genius or weird?

I've had a bit of a shopping spree on Tradera/Ebay lately, here's some of this month's purchases: a purse for stockings, a sewing book from 1940s, hair-ties (actually from the shop Hemlängtan). I've played around a bit with the hair-ties, but it doesn't go too well for me. Any advice? Someone who's tried these things?


The inside of the purse, it has room for seven pairs of stockings. I'm a bit torn, is this a really smart little thing, or is it just strange? Genius or weird? I'm leaning towards genius, at least for travelling...


A tablecloth for the coffetable, also Tradera/Ebay. I needed something more fitting for summer.


The contents of the sewing book. It's not so thick, about 100 pages, bur it's very nice to flip through and it has some useful instructions on measuring, fabrics, buttonholes etc. This book comes up regularly on Tradera, and usually go for 10-50 SEK. I gave 10 SEK (about 1,5 $), plus shipping.


Some pictures from the inside of it.


Have a great week!

Love, Erika