early morning train
On Friday I caught an early morning train by myself to Oslo. In the morning I wandered around mostly aimlessly, enjoying the noise and stimulation of the city and my child-free state. I even found, as though by some hidden magnetic attraction, my way to a street lined with little fabric shops. I bought a few metres of wool.
In the afternoon, I met up with Emily, who lives there. It was so great to have a guide. She showed me the best places for watching boats on the dock, for looking at Camper shoes, for buying wooden toys, for finding alpaca yarn in any colour you can imagine. She introduced me to Oleana, the shop of Norwegian designer Solveig Hisdal's beautiful knitwear, inspired by traditional Norwegian textiles. (I think Emily is planning on writing about Oleana on her blog soon.) I haven't been able to stop thinking about the cardigans in there since seeing them.
E also kindly gave me this bundle of fabric and buttons to take home. Thank you, Emily! I think the striped cotton will be nice as lining for a navy linen bag. Over the weekend, I worked on my new design, from some of the wool fabric I found in Oslo, and am now happy with the dimensions and weight of it. I'm hoping to start up my etsy shop again at the end of this week, which is exciting and nervewracking at the same time. This one is a grey and white herringbone wool, with striped cotton inside.
Oh Yay! that sounds like a great dayout, and loving the new bags - very sophisticated and smart... xx
Posted by: caireen | February 26, 2008 at 01:30 AM
i love hearing about your new adventures! how nice to have a guide on your day trip!
Posted by: kirsten | February 26, 2008 at 03:35 AM
what a thrilling day, it sounds like the very best kind of good things all at once!
Posted by: mims | February 26, 2008 at 07:02 AM
What a lovely excursion, and so nice you got to be shown around by a like minded person! How fun to go exploring!
Posted by: Jo | February 26, 2008 at 07:32 AM
ooh - loving the new bags. I can't believe we're about to go into summer again - my wool collection is going to have to wait !! Oh well, it'll give me something to do later. Glad to hear you met up with Emily again! So cool to have a norway friend :)
Posted by: charlotte | February 26, 2008 at 09:18 AM
hi,
i appreciated your bags, its are really beautiful!!! i would learn your new design , can you explicate me? ]]thanks[[ Manu
Posted by: Manu | February 26, 2008 at 09:45 AM
Hey - your bag looks gorgeous in wool. There is something so deliciously wholesome about it - like an amish or shaker style, almost. I love it.
I'm so glad you had a day out to explore and make a friend - I have major travel envy!
x Helen
Posted by: Helen | February 26, 2008 at 04:04 PM
mmmm oslo. how wonderful that you can go there on a day trip, and with a great crafty guide no less! i remember being totally dazzled by all the wool and norwegian knitwear. i bought a dale of norway kit (a hat) to try colorwork but i have been too scared thus far!
did you have a chance to go to the applied arts museum? that was one of my favorite things in oslo... very cool!
xox
Posted by: amisha | February 26, 2008 at 05:26 PM
Love the first photo it really captures what you write about wandering around aimlessly at first.
Posted by: Kate | February 26, 2008 at 07:23 PM
Hi,
First time here, thanks for your comment on my knittingneedle organizer (Ballee on Flickr)!
And about this post: isn't great to have time for yourself once in a while, walking trough a city, "behind your nose" (that's how we say it in Dutch ;).
Great findings and present!
groeten uit Rotterdam
Posted by: knittingajour | February 26, 2008 at 08:30 PM
Sounds like you had a great day in Oslo... and child free...lucky you... can't remember the last time I went anywhere without children...
Love your new bag!
Posted by: Tonje | February 26, 2008 at 11:50 PM
Sounds like you had a wonderful time. A day out in Oslo shopping is a great thing! Your bag is wonderful. Happy week ((HUGS))
Posted by: Tracy | February 27, 2008 at 01:18 AM
That bag is lovely & it sounds like you had a wonderful time!
Posted by: Chara Michele | February 27, 2008 at 06:27 AM
how amazing that you can just hop on a train and be worlds away. the day sounds wonderful with some perfect stops. and the bag turned out great!
Posted by: kristin | February 27, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Herringbone, oh, herringbone, I'll always love you.
What beautiful bag you have made!
Posted by: Alex | February 28, 2008 at 12:42 AM
Trips to Oslo, trips to Sweden, getting a job, you just seem to make it look effortless at fitting in! I'd still be trying to figure out how to buy milk.
Posted by: Steph | February 28, 2008 at 12:49 PM
So wonderful to open your blog, makes monday morning a joy ! love to you all.
Posted by: Susie | March 03, 2008 at 09:42 AM