a beautiful weekend

Ok, I know it, I'm spoiled. After a fabulous weekend three weeks ago in Stockholm with some girlfriends, you would think that I had had enough traveling. Nope! It was already time for a short trip down to Copenhagen with my Mom for some shopping and sightseeing!

I have been there many times before. You see, my sister in law lives there which makes it convenient (not to mention affordable) to go down there from time to time. I pretty much have the same routine each time - eat good food, drink great coffee and shop a full two days (if not three!). Many of the shops are the same as we have here in Norway but because Copenhagen is so large, the speciality shops tend to outweigh the chains and you can find some fantastic items.


This time, I decided to try something different and go to a flea market. Oh my! It was a dream! Anything you can imagine at give-away-prices! Boxes and boxes of cabinet photos for a buck each, old games, junque, you name it. My only regret was not having a few more arms and an extra day! I did score some old game picture cards (seen below), fantastic old pictures in authentic frames and a huge candleholder (I nabbed that for 10 bucks!). Hard to tell from the photo, but it stands about 2 feet! Hmm, where am I going to put this?

No trip can be complete for me without a trip to one of my favorite shops, Søsterene Grene and stock up on cheap canvases and other stuff for
my house that I don't need. Big spools of silk ribbon for just over a dollar each and canvases? Oh my, 4" for less than a dollar and my new, favorite size, 4" x 6" for just over dollar! I usually buy as many I can get in to my suitcase and then go back later to buy another bag that I can carry on. This time, because I bought so much at the flea market, had to settle for less than usual, but still was able to squeeze in about 20 canvases of various sizes.
Copenhagen is a fantastic place and everytime I am there, I am reminded at how much I miss the big city. So much excitement!

Spring is here

Spring in Norway usually means:

a) rain
b) indoor activities because of the rain
c) more rain
d) daffodils and tulips

The past three years my mother has visited us during the Spring. We all look forward to these visits as she enjoys cooking and for the few weeks she is here, there is always something baking and something new and exciting for dinner. I love it, because I don't like to cook myself and I feel like I am on vacation from making dinner. yippee! The boys like it because they can make cookies and lick their fingers free from frosting without me yelling at them (grandma lets them do it).

However, this Spring we will add a new tradition to the family - Noah's birthday, May 10th. I find myself scrambling to take pictures of him as that one year mark is rapidly approaching and I realized that I have only taken about half of the amount as I did the first one. I had promised myself that I would not let this happen but have noticed that the pages in his first year album are a bit skinny. Anyway, I did capture a good one of him and Anders...they are so much alike, I feel like I am looking into the future! I feel like I can see him in Anders.

They say times goes fast and boy, they weren't kidding! Man, I am starting to feel oooooold.

Also, have updated my site with new art available if anyone is interested.
www.erikatysse.com

Happy Spring!

Wicked Stepmother

Ah yes, my stepmother. I've got one, have had one now for over half my life. She pretty much showed up, unannounced, scooped up my Dad whom I had pretty much had all to myself and married him, bringing along two children as well. They were pretty much the same age as me, which meant that I now had more than just one sister to compete with, I had two more I had to SHARE with! Yep, it was quite some childhood...

Feel sorry for me?

Well don't! My goodness, she spoils me rotten! Look what I got in the mail yesterday! Who hoo! I receive these little packages every once in awhile with old papers and photos she discovers at yard sales. This batch was even cooler than the last as it had a wonderful stack of old calendar pages from 1928 and a bunch of old pictures which appear to be ones she had picked out one by one as they are all useable! I was feeling sort of in a rut, looking through my stuff and not finding anything that sparked even the slightest inspiration. Now I've got it! You're the best, stepmom!

I have been so busy, not only with a 11 month year old but with various other commitments that I haven't had a chance to do anything for fun for quite some time. Now that I have a little breather, I have updated my site with a few pieces I have available as well as recycled some older 4" collages that were rather unsuccessful and am currently planning to list them on ebay. Here is a peak:

(click on pictures to go directly to auction)

Happy Weekend!

a good day

Ah, today was a good day...

Managed three hours outside spring cleaning because the rain has finally stopped.

Baby Noah started "talking" on the phone - sounds a bit Arabic-but it is wonderful to see the expression on his face when he thinks he is communicating with someone.

Jonah (9) who decided to grown his hair out a couple of months ago has finally gotten past the bad stage. His hair still looks horrible but at least it is laying nicely and isn't sticking up every which way.

Ahh, and best of all, Anders (7) told me, after I asked him if he thought that I was fat answered, "No, you just have a lot of blood." He was treated to a movie after that. When I ask my hubby if I look fat his answer always is, "Do I look stupid?".

How'd It Go Again?

"How'd It Go Again?"

30 cm x 40 cm

mixed media on canvas

(Ok, so I have been a bit in to a bird/spring/new beginning sort of mood. ) :)

I'm in LOVE!

Daniel Smith Quinacridone Red! Are you looking for red? A real red? A fantastic red? Look no further! I have had this in my stash for over a year without even opening it . I have other reds that I wanted to use up first and thought that maybe I should save my good stuff being that art supplies are so expensive here in Norway. Now that I look back through my work, I can see that I used virtually no crimson hues at all and I just figured out the reason! All of those reds sucked! They were to orange or to purple and after I added every possible color to it, it was even worse than the original out-of-the-tube color. This color is amazing, not only with a tinge of ultramarine blue, but just on its own. Duh...wish I would of discovered this a year ago!

"Letting Go"
24 cm x 30 cm
mixed media on canvas
(note: image cut off slightly due to small scanner bed)

Losing a Friend

"Losing a Friend"

30 cm (12" square)
mixed media on canvas