Dream catchers for making dreams come true

Hi my lovelies
Do you believe in dream catchers? Do you have them? Do you know anything about them? I believe in dream catchers and so does also my oldest Nelly Bo who preferably spends her free time either at the piano, listening to music or singing but also creating, painting and re-decorating. She loves everything "boho" and spiritual and so naturally she started to make dream catchers to find peace and to release stress between school and studies which is taking up most of her time these days.

Last fall I showed you some of her creations on Instagram which resulted in a few sales and customized orders to Nelly Bo's delight. She is saving up money for traveling around the world once school is over and her future goal is to work in the humanitarian sector to help people in need and environmental rescue projects. My girl wants to save the world, and with that ambition I think traveling the world and seeing other cultures, volunteering in a humanitarian project or similar is a great start.

In Native American culture it is said that dream catchers were hung above the beds of sleeping children to protect them from bad dreams and evil spirits. Legends held that the spider web design of the dream catcher would allow good dreams to pass through and float down the hanging beads and feathers to the sleeping children, while bad dreams would be caught in the web and disappear with the first rays of the morning light.

Nelly Bo's dream catchers are made with great love and attention to details. Every creation is unique and one of its kind. She is a strong believer of a dream catchers' power to protect and spread good spirit. If you are interesting in purchasing one of her creations you can now wind them in my Etsy shop. Nelly Bo will continue to make dream catchers in her spare time and when buying one of Nelly Bo's handmade creations, you are helping her to raise the money she needs to make her dreams come true.

Kärlek
Annette

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PhD in Teenage Motherhood anyone?

It isn't always easy to be a teenager. Nelly Bo is not an exception. No, I would say she might be rather the opposite. She is deep into it. A little too smart for her age and a big, deep thinker... There is the thing of finding your identity, finding the right bunch of friends, how to handle relationships, how social interaction works, body image issues, boys, girls, siblings, parents, life, parties, music, alcohol, independence, sex, future, past, where do I come from, growing up, menstruation, pimples, fashion, image and of course SCHOOL and what am I gonna be when I grow up? I mean this is only the tip of the iceberg right?

Being a teenage mother forces me to pull out every inch of understanding, patience, goodness, tough love, empathy, youth, maturity, clear communication skills, just enough control and at the same time the ability to let go, an open mind, listening and not interfering, interfering and taking action. Handling the quick swinging motions between emotional break downs and euphoric laugh attacks. It is exhausting. And often I feel helpless, hopeless, unsure and confused. Teenage parenting is super fast one second and slow the next. Decisions are made in an instant, there are no preparation for what is coming next. Or not. It just happens. Right there and then. And it needs to be dealt with. Right there and then.

I find it to be so true when people say: "Small children - small problems, big children - big problems". (Although I would like to swap the "problems" to "challenges". It just sounds better...) Because small children requires our care and nurturing that comes natural for us. We just need to meet basic needs. With bigger children we suddenly have to start to discuss, explain, negotiate and guide which takes so much more effort. What do you say to a 16 year old who wonders what the purpose of life is? I mean THAT is a deep conversation to have right? Compared to "Mama, boh boh on my arm. Uuuueeehhhh!!! Can you kiss the pain away???"

Anyway. I'm loving every minute of it. Or actually that is a lie. Let me re-phrase that. With a helicopter view I'm loving every minute of it. When zooming in on this particular phase of parenthood I'm wondering if I can really pull this off? I mean, don't you need a PhD in Teenage Motherhood to do this right? I don't know, I feel a bit lost, like I'm out on deep water where my feet can't touch the ground anymore... Hopefully I will find my way back into shore... And hopefully she will be there safe and sound right next to me. No one makes me laugh harder then her. Love her to the moon and back. Of course.

Kärlek
Annette

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This and that on a Sunday

A lot has been going on here lately. Time is running so fast I find it hard to keep up with all the happenings. So here is a little round up of my "lately".

There has been lots of granny square makings here. All the pieces for my crochet patchwork project are done and nicely blocked. Now the joining can begin. It is a very satisfying project and I'm enjoying every minute of it. I'm also working on the Daisy square blanket and I've just started on the border. All the squares are made by Nelly Bo and I will hold on to it and give it to her one day when she might have a baby. At least that is what I'm thinking as I don't just want to give it away. It might take 15 years or so, but it will be worth waiting for. It's a nice thought. :)

As many of you've seen on my Instagram, I made an attempt to crochet outside. It didn't last for long, the sun was very seductive at the time but the air was still to chilly to enjoy. I made one daisy square and not even the many layers of fleece and duvet could make me stay for longer. The coffee got cold in just minutes. But it was a nice try. :)

Nelly Bo has been making dream catchers. They are everywhere in our living room, dangling in windows and on walls. She is very good at it and I will list them all in my Etsy shop for you to buy. She is saving up money for world travels once school is over. I'm a proud Mama I have to admit (smug face!).

We had school break and took a short trip to Lucerne. What a beautiful place. We strolled the streets, visited museums, had coffees and donuts. I'll share more in a Lucerne post another day, but you can see some sneak peeks from the beautiful architecture and charm this small town has.

Last week I released my latest pattern the Olivia's shawl (read about it here and buy it on Etsy and Ravelry) and I'm so happy to see so many of you are liking this latest design of mine. Thank you so much for supporting me and my Rose Valley through your purchases. My cheeks are blushing of pride. :)

And the snow. Shall we talk snow. Really? We had our fair amount. I've shoveled the front of the house more than once (see video on Instagram). It is a hard job but a job I kind of like. Afterwards there is always the joy of indulging in coffee and crochet all warm and peaceful with red cheeks. That is the best part. 

Well, that was a glimpse into my life lately. More is to come. This week I'll share some more crochet inspiration and I'll try and get those dream catchers in my Etsy shop pronto. I'll let you all know hen they are going live. Happy Sunday and until next time - Stay cozy & warm!

Kärlek
Annette

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My shining star

This kid. So creative. With an eye for details. Fine skills. Engineering skills. He solves problems. Finds alternative solutions. Always. Runs around the house to collect what is needed to transform what he sees in his head into a model of reality.

He is passionate. He is intense. He falls in love hard. When an idea has taken form in his mind, he won't stop until it is finished. Determination. Perseverance. Trials. Errors. Frustration. Sometimes tears and anger. Most often just silence and focus. Hours passes by, still in his PJ's on a weekend. Who cares, he is in his world of creative joy.

And so he shows me. The result. And I'm always blown away. By the details, all those small details... The story he includes in his makes. The technical solutions. A fidget spinner made from bearings and rubber bands. A basket ball court with slam dunk, audience and spot lights. A model airplane that has crashed. Fingerboards made in layers of maple wood. His desire to make things is so strong. And most often he transforms the idea to reality. In perfection. And I'm thinking. This kid is amazing.

How I wish people just like him - stars - could be seen for their real potential instead of desperately trying to force them, with pointy ends sticking out and all, into a square box... A box full of expectations from our society. From the system. Education. We are so lucky to have it. And still I find the system so old fashioned. Has it evolved at all since I went there? Where is the interaction? Where is the practical learning? Where is the flexibility? Where is the encouragement? Where is the joy and engagement? Where is the creativity? I'm so frustrated...

My star, judged by grades, points on tests, in an environment not made for stars. A place where top scores in art, handy craft, music and sports doesn't even count in the end result. A place where academic points are determining his future. Telling him he needs to perform better. Sit more still. Listen more carefully. Study harder. Fit into the system and stop being different. Because there is no time to pay special attention to someone who is different or needs extra support. The classes are too big. The teachers' time is limited, following a busy curriculum that needs to be met. I get it...

I just hope, sincerely hope, school won't kill his creativity. I will always ALWAYS encourage his talents. Love him for the person he is. Together we will beat the system. I'll help him find his way through the square box of education and one day someone will see the star qualities he has. And he will shine. He will shine bright. If you just let him. And everyone else. Stars - let them all shine!

There is no doubt that creativity is 

the most important resource of all.

Without creativity, 

there would be no progress, 

and we would be forever 

repeating the same patterns.
Edward de Bono

Kärlek
Annette

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Winter Wonderland Sweden

I'm not sure what to add. The photos speak for themselves... We spent our last 48 hours of our Sweden visit over New Year in this incredibly charming village Järvsö, only 3 hours+ drive north from Stockholm.  Lets put it this way, all my kids wanted to move there!!! And me too! That is how much they loved it. Luca Bo entered the hill when the lifts opened and I didn't see him until they closed after the last run. I strolled around in the cute village, looked at the beautiful Swedish houses, dreaming away of living in one... Preferably with a big veranda... Oh yes. A big glassed in veranda on a red house with white corners... Geraniums on the window sills in summer, fairy lights in winter...

Hot crépes and chocolates has never tasted better than on the hill by a burning fire. Being outside all day gave us all rosy cheeks and the crisp air filled us with energy. We stayed in the cutest little red cottage with bunk beds. Just perfect. Our surroundings looked like a picture from a fairy tale... Driving back to the airport through this divine landscape actually felt like driving through Narnia. I would love to come back for a longer visit. So much more to see, to do, to experience. So tasteful. So traditional. So refreshing. I'm not surprised by the slogan used to advertise this location: "Järvsö - Always. Beautiful. Nearby. " It sums it up. We will be back, I'm sure.

Kärlek
Annette

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