iHanna's Blog

Paint Your Own Dala Horse Workshop

Posted on 2013-12-12 by iHanna

Dalahäst painting workshop with iHanna

A few weeks back I held a workshop at the Stockholm university. It was super fun and I took lots of photos while we painted. Some of you have seen a few instagram pics already, but I wanted to share more from the workshop with you guys. Mostly of the student’s creativity – it was mindbogglingly amazing!

I started by talking a bit about the history of the dala häst (an image that has become a symbol of Sweden in many ways), kurbits (the painting style) and how the horses are still made mostly by hand today. I showed slides of my own visit to the Dala Horse Factory. Then each student got a wood horse to paint themselves, in what ever style they choose! Continue reading →

Posted in A Creative Life, Other people's Creativity | Tagged creativity, dala horse, glitter, painting, spray paint, sweden, teaching, woodwork, workshop | Leave a comment

Bring out the Glitter and Glue

Posted on 2013-12-11 by iHanna

A lot of people are afraid to say what they want. That’s why they don’t get what they want.Madonna [from her book "Sex"]

It’s December and so much I want to write about before the year ends. Let’s jump in again today, with a bit of crafting!

It’s been a while since I did any decoupage crafts. I even forgot how incredibly sticky your fingers become from using any decoupage glue (I used matte medium this time). It’s because I use my fingers to smooth out the air bubbles. But when I got pre-cut wood, shaped like icons, I knew I had to bring out the glue! And the glitter of course! There is something about the month of December that makes me want to glitter everything up!

Continue reading →

Posted in Paper craft | Tagged christmas craft, decoupage, glitter, icon, oddball craft, symbols | 12 Comments

365 Collages | Week 49

Posted on 2013-12-10 by iHanna

Welcome to My World

There is only three weeks left of the year of collage! Can you believe it? We all know time flies, but every end of the year we’re caught by surprise. Already the year is ending? Where did the time disappear to?

With my personal 365-collage project I feel that I’ve really had many creative and happy moments making art this year, probably a record of some kind. And I love that you’ve all been here with me to celebrate it each week!

So once again I ask you to let me know in the comments what you think of this weeks collages. Any favorites found, and if so, why do you think that is? What appeals to you? Personally I am especially pleased with the titles this time, probably because they make my inner child smile. Continue reading →

Posted in Collage | Tagged 365in2013, collage artwork, square collage | 13 Comments

Make a Snowflake

Posted on 2013-12-09 by iHanna

Invite your inner child out for a bit of winter crafting this week!

When snow won’t come to you, you have to make your own snow! That’s the new iHanna saying around here. Or, even better put; when snow flakes out on you, you’d better create some snowflakes on your own! And you may quote me on that.

A sweet friend of mine bought me some fun stamps and a magazine about paper crafts on her latest trip abroad. And when she came over we had a lovely time together paper crafting with my new stuff!
Continue reading →

Posted in Paper craft | Tagged christmas craft, inner child, paper cutting, snow | 4 Comments

Paper Patchwork Postcards en masse

Posted on 2013-12-08 by iHanna

My sewing machine loves to come out to play every now and then. I wish we had more time to play together. She doesn’t even mind when I bring out a stash of papers and sew those together, because we agree that paper sewing is one of the best crafts! That is, me and my sewing machine agrees on that. And maybe you do too? Today I’m sharing front views of all the DIY Postcards I sent out in the swap, including some “extras”. All of them are stitched together scraps of paper, like a paper quilt.

Enjoy! Continue reading →

Posted in Paper craft | Tagged paper patchwork, postcard idea, postcard swap II 2013 | 12 Comments

Wishing you a Day filled with Good Things

Posted on 2013-12-07 by iHanna

Today I wanted to show you one of the pretty extras that I got in the DIY Postcard Swap this year. It is made by my mom, who has been participating in almost all of the swaps I’ve arranged I think.

I saw the beginnings of the postcard, because we had a crafternoon together in my studio, where mom started by painting the postcard foundation. She used acrylic paints and painted with one of our favorite methods of painting, something she too has fallen in love with…

Continue reading →

Posted in Other people's Creativity | Tagged free motion sewing, momcraft, postcard idea, postcard swap II 2012 | 4 Comments

Patterns doodles at the Office

Posted on 2013-12-04 by iHanna

You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. Plato

Instead of going into a meeting at work, only equipped with a ball point pen and a notepad, lately I’ve been bringing a black marker with me too. Not for note taking, but for doodles. I, like many others, listen and concentrate much better when I can do something with my hands. And since I can’t bring my knitting (because it is at home most of the time) I bring a good pen. Love bringing a good pen to meetings these days! Continue reading →

Posted in Draw & doodle | Tagged doodles, grow, inner child, pattern love | 9 Comments

365 Collages | Week 48 & Thoughts on Copyright

Posted on 2013-12-03 by iHanna

A Year of Cut & Paste

Vintage text pages are fun to create collages with, and there is no end to the combinations you can create. I had a lot of fun with these. Please let me know in the comment section if you can detect a favorite among these collages. I appreciate your visit dear reader, and your time! Thank you! Continue reading →

Posted in Collage | Tagged 365in2013, blogging, collage artwork, copyright | 18 Comments

Yummy Bits of Paper Scraps

Posted on 2013-12-02 by iHanna

As a collage artist my paper collection is an ever growing pile of yumminess… I love my paper stash a lot, as you know. But my apartment is very small, and my home studio already takes up a lot of room here. I don’t really want the paper stash to take over my life… Instead of trashing I’ve been sorting some of it into goodie bags, and adding them to my Etsy Shop! Continue reading →

Posted in Paper craft, Recycle and reuse | Tagged cut + paste, etsy update, paper scraps, pretty papers, stash | 5 Comments

Pop Art DIY Postcards

Posted on 2013-11-30 by iHanna

I am finally sitting down to post some of the many photos I took while making postcards for the DIY Postcard Swap! Just looking at my messy desk above, filed with half finished postcards a few weeks back, makes me want to jump in and do another swap right away. I think I am loving this swap more and more for each year we do this! How about you?

I love sewing paper patchwork! I love making those patchworks into postcards! I’ve done similar postcards before, but this time I was really digging through the stash and some new magazines to find bright, pop art inspired illustrations and patterns. I wanted the look of modern, fun and sparkly (without actually adding glitter). Continue reading →