Parcel arrived!

I´ve ordered more satin cord to make kumihimo with. This time rayon satin cord for the US. What a nice material! So soft and with a great luster.... I had to make a bracelet at once, and went for the Navy color. Sadly it was a sample, so I only braided one. But I´m waiting for more.... I also got thinner cord in satin, so I´m ready to explore more complicated patterns. And I started playing with the idea of having a marudai made here in Norway... I just need to get in touch with a furniture maker.

Navy - dark night

On a different note - I forgot to buy soil, so shiso sowing hasn´t started yet.... I better get on with it!

Creative week

http://epla.no/shops/krysantemumdesign/

Please visit my Facebook-page too:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Krysantemum-design/113532282056909

If you click "like" you have a chance to win a mobile charm/ bracelet!

Earthquake...

... I don´t know what to say, Japan was just hit by an earthquake and a tsunami. I´m heartbroken and my thoughts go out to everyone there. I hope as many as possible of the missing people are unharmed, and that cities and the whole society will be rebuilt and back to normal as soon as possible....

Check out this link / competition: Håndlaga 2011

http://handlaga2011.blogspot.com/

"Handmade 2011" / "Håndlaga 2011" - a competition of the best handmade products and blogs about handicraft in Norway. Please follow the link and nominate your favorites!

I´ve nominated one of my bracelets in the category Jewelry + a pair of earrings from Mirjam H.
You can find her shop here: http://epla.no/shops/mirjamh/
Be aware: Lot´s of "candy" for girls.....

I´ve nominated this bracelet from my own shop:

"Spring": Lilac, green and white bracelet with silver details.
from my shop: http://epla.no/shops/krysantemumdesign/

Norwegian sake!

Our dear friends at the microbrewery Nøgne Ø (Naked island) have made the first (?) Norwegian sake. Today I went and got two bottles + their beer Red Horizon, based on sake production.
I will taste the sake tomorrow, but for now, I´m posting a picture of the bottle. It looks nice....

Check out the blog of the producers on:
http://nogne-o.blogspot.com/


Ps: I´ve added a column on the side bar showing off my custom made kumihimo bracelets. :)

Sunday update: I´ve tasted the sake, (in hinoki wood sake cups). What a taste explosion! The first notion was honey, then a hint of beer, rice, and all in all I´m impressed. This was a very nice first date with "homegrown" Norwegian sake, and I will continue to buy it. I hope they will be able to distribute the other types as well, or summer vacation has to be spent in Grimstad this year!

First of March - means one thing:

It is time to go get soil for seeds, check my storage of shiso seeds and maybe order new;
get everything ready for planting season 2011!

Happy, green-fingered Linuz!

Warm soba noodles - winter food

Soba is a typical summer dish eaten cold in Japan. But in the winter we make it in a hot broth with vegetables and meat or fish, just like ramen or udon noodles.

So this is a non-frill winter dinner in our house:

Warm soba with salmon

- Soba noodles, cooked after instructions and rinsed in water.
- Hot broth (soy, sake, sugar, salt, mirin or menmi with sugar and mirin).
- Vegetables; I used lotus root (renkon), fennel and pak choi.
- Grilled salmon with teriaki glaze and sesame seeds.
- Nori.

Instructions:

Cook soba, rinse, set aside.
Grill a piece of salmon in the oven untill done (while you´re cooking the rest).
Simmer the renkon in oil, soy and sugar (broth base) until soft but crispy, add fennel and pak choi and fry some 5 more minutes. Pour in the broth, heat and add soba.
Serve with grilled salmon, sesame and nori on top!
Yum!

I ruined the tofu + making more kumihimo...

Ah, I can´t believe I did that! But after 2-3 hours of making tofu it took me 30 seconds to ruin it.... It all went fine up until when I added vinegar. The tofu didn´t curd so fast, so I thought I´d better heat it some more. I put it back on the heat, turned around, focused on the dishes, and then it boiled! Oh... it burned and boiled.... I scooped up the curds and made the tofu anyway, but it didn´t come out right. I don´t have any pictures... and I just want to forget the whole thing. But I still want tofu... *sulk*... so tomorrow I have to get more soy beans.

"Red on red": Faux leather and satin braid with silver details and red glass pearl.

On the other hand, kumihimo braiding is still fun! Yesterday I tried flat braid with heart pattern. I will post a picture soon when the light is better for pictures.

I´m adding a few pictures of other braids; satin, 100% silk and satin/ faux-leather combo.

I´m working on a small surprise for a friend right now. I hope she will like it!

"Mother and daughter": Satin braid with gold plated details and glass pearls.

"100% silk": Hand colored silk in red and lilac with silver details and red glass pearl.

(Thanks to my mum for the silk!)

http://krysantemumdesign.epla.no

Still making bracelets....

I´m happy spending my evenings making kumihimo bracelets!

Two friends have ordered custom color and fitted ones, so I´m about to finish my first order.
I can make most sizes and a lot of different colors, so don´t be afraid to contact me if you
want one, or check out my Epla store:

http://krysantemumdesign.epla.no

I´ll be posting a small give-away soon!

On the food front, I´ve got soya beans soaking to make tofu tomorrow. Still missing a real tofu press made out of hinoki wood, but I will buy one at some point. It´ll cost me quite a bit to have one sent over from US.

Kumihimo - news and a shop!

Look what I´m making! My braiding really took off, so I´ve got myself a small shop on the "norwegian etsy"; Epla! My shop is called krysantemum design - krysantemum being both a flower and a japanese hair braiding style.

Check it out (Norwegian customers):

http://krysantemumdesign.epla.no

Looks like I´ve got a hidden passion, and maybe talent?