On my needles.....

I now work full time, so my mrsmacolsson time is somewhat reduced.  But my enjoyment of creating continues, not just at home now, but also at work.

Here in Sweden, the long winter is starting to make its mark on us all.  I find myself longing for  sunny days and birdsong.  My mum informs me that the crocuses at home in Scotland are coming up, the snowdrops are blooming.   So what to do? Well, you just move the garden indoors.  Mr MacOlsson came home with some daffodil bulbs which are promising to bloom soon.

There is a lot of "hygge" being mentioned right now.  Seems like the Danish word has now become international.......so thought I would share a little of my "hygge".   Knitting was one of the first crafty things I learned to do.  I remember knitting little dresses for my Pippa and Daisy doll.  One of my best presents ever was a little blue dress and hat my mum knitted for my doll when I was maybe 4.

So "hygge" right now for me is knitting.   I adore all the Scandinavian traditional knitting patterns and have always admired Fair Isle and Shetland knitting.  When we were in Finland over the New Year, I was looking at Mr MacOlssons grandmother's knitting patterns for mittens.  Since my Finnish is pretty bad, I could really just decipher the charts.  So now I have two New Year's Resolutions.......learn some more Finnish, and learn to knit mittens Scandinavian style.

I found a cute Fox mitten pattern for the youngest MacOlsson, so have got this far!  Pretty simple, but still a good way to practise, not just patterns but knitting with 5 needles :)  Think my little sister would be rolling her eyes right now at me!!!!

So there it is, my "hygge".

Advent Competition

Advent in Sweden is special.  Lights are put up, preferably white, stars hung up in windows and many people invite friends over to drink a little glögg (mulled wine) with raisins and almonds, and eat pepparkakor ( gingerbread biscuits).  Today is the first Advent Sunday, and while many do rush to the shops to start the frenzy also known as Christmas Shopping, most of us enjoy the first excited flutters that soon will lead to Jultomten (Santa) and julstrumpor (Christmas stockings).

With three little MacOlssons at home, it is fun.  Their eyes are gleeful, dancing with happiness when they open the first door of the Advent calendar.  Little Master MacOlsson asked Mr MacOlsson this afternoon when we would put up our outdoor lights.  Lovely papa that he is, he duly fetched and hung them on the magnolia tree by the front door, all the while accompanied by three little elves toot toot toooooooting on their recorders (imagine the beat to Jingle Bells, but horribly out of tune and horribly loud). 

Next question of course was when we would decorate inside.  Mr MacOlsson being smart replied that that is mamma's domain.  So I dutifully ironed the julgardin ( red gingham checked curtain) for the kitchen, brought out the advent candelabra and the red Iittala and Marimekko candle holders.  Glögg was warmed, red cordial mixed for the kidlets and pepparkakor munched.

What better way to celebrate the new start on my blog and the festive season than a competition?  For your chance to win a Marimekko tea cosy crafted by Mrs MacOlsson, follow these twosteps!

1.  Leave a comment on this post (scroll to the Bottom of the post to the leave a 

comment box, click and leave comment)

2. Share the fb page competition post on your own fb page ( just click on the share button)

A winner will be chosen next Sunday!