Naive Life under the Scandinavian Sky

See You in March!

2012-01-11T16:20:00.000-08:00

My dear friends, I am leaving for China tomorrow to celebrate Chinese New Year together with my parents in Beijing. And I will be back in March with my new collection of Naive Days 2012 Spring Summer.

I am greatly encouraged to see pictures of Elsa dressing in my work, as I was when I saw pictures of Sally, Nea, Iza dressing in my works as well. Thank you all, all my bigs friends and small friends.....for you being there and sharing the beauty of life together with me, Anja and Anette. I am so happy to make so many good friends here at this blogspot sphere, and your friendship really makes me feel fulfilled with joy and kindness of life.

Dear Coco and K, sorry for not having time to make a post of your beautiful presents to me as I said. I will do it after I come back from China. Happy Chinese New Year!!! All my dear Chinese friends and friends who celebrate Chinese New Year! See you again in March!

For Memory 花森安治设计的封面

2012-01-04T09:22:00.000-08:00

His painting touches my heart....I fall in love with the naivety which I see from the pictures.

For memory....花森安治

Happy New Year!

2011-12-30T16:46:00.000-08:00

Not so much snow in Norway for this Christmas. We went to skating instead. Anja and Anette had lots of fun at the skating rink. And they enjoyed very much the warm chocolate drink afterwards. We wish all our dear friends having a wonderful 2012!

In the Church

2011-12-25T08:49:00.000-08:00

There must be more than a few questions in their little brains:) I wished that I could answer their questions while I need to find the answers first for myself. We go to the Church every Christmas with the grandparents. It is a family activity during the Christmas. This year, I was too tired preparing for the Christmas day and felt very relaxed when sitting there and waiting for the beginning of the Christmas ceremony. I remembered how much it was necessary to bring along with to go to the Church every year when the girls were small: milk powder, warm water, small piece of Chinese bun...... to keep the girls quiet during the ceremony. And suddenly, they are big girls now and I don't need to bring a thing, big sigh!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-22T03:45:00.000-08:00

To all my dear friends:) Merry Christmas!

Greetings from Norway!

Big hug, Anette, Anja and Fei

Christmas in the Air...

2011-12-21T03:28:00.000-08:00

刚放学回来的安耐，先要吃要喝，然后再在沙发上打俩滚儿，现在被老妈责令上楼收拾自己的房间去了。我很喜欢她乱七八糟的头发和她时常很滑稽的样子。就希望她慢慢长大啊。

We are in a high mood preparing for the Christmas now. The last school day for the girls today:) So, I will soon have two little people to be my models and have fun of taking pictures of them. Anja played a piece by Vivaldi at the final concert of this semester this Tuesday without any mistake:) I am happy not because she did not make any mistakes of the playing, but because both of us know how to "embrace the mistake" now. Year 2011 is completely a blessing to me and the girls, thank you!

A Red Robe

2011-12-13T05:58:00.000-08:00

This is a wool felt robe which I just made today. Not totally finish yet, Anette likes it at once and very happy to be taken of photos:) I wish that we could take more pictures outside. However, it gets dark so earlier and have to take pictures inside. I wished to live a bit more of South, so the girls can have more chance to use the felt clothing which I love so much. I am thinking that maybe I will make one of this kind robe for myself:) I know almost all friends are having more fun with face book now. And I will show up more there at face book soon.

Sheepskin Work by Lene Nordum

2011-12-11T04:01:00.000-08:00

A piece of Sheepskin work by Lene Nordum. Sorry for not updating these items to my shop yet. I am busier than I thought during this Christmas season. Will update this piece to my shop very soon.

First Snow in Oslo

2011-12-09T04:52:00.000-08:00

Share a little trip of mine to Oslo yesterday. First snow in Oslo. The grass is still bit green. Finally, the kids and the adults can go skiing. Many, many, Norwegian people have been waiting for the snowing for so long......

bought a Norwegian interior and architecture magazine and enjoyed reading it with a cup of coffee latte in my favorite cafe in Oslo. The coffe shop changes the flowers on the table to big red roses to address the Christmas mood. The traditional color of Christmas in Norway is red. The magazine might be the only good one among all the Norwegian interior and architecture magazines to my own preference ( Sorry to say this ;p). The online magazine is here. (Be prepared that there are quite some advertising pages otherwise the other things are good enough for me: I like the photography very much.) The website is here.

Finally, I got to visit 3 months Mia, daughter of my girlfriend, in Oslo. I am overwhelmingly happy carrying her in my arms. 整个晚上我都被巨大的幸福感所笼罩着。Had been feeling so high the whole night. I did not know I love baby this much:)

Knitting by Haldis Ottershagen

2011-12-07T01:33:00.000-08:00

This set of hand-knitted wool sweater and trouser is made by a 70 year old granny, Madame. Haldis Ottershagen, who is living in our neighborhood. I met her at the local Christmas Market last week. I usually buy this kind of sweater and trouser set for Anja and Anette to wear under the skiing dress in the winter time. They do have special skiing under dress in the sport shop, however, I prefer they put on this kind of traditional wool sweater and trousers. I buy them wool under wears as well. The kids would not feel cold by wearing the full set of wool sweater, trousers, and underwear if they sweat a lot and get wet of their body and clothing.

I admire Madam. Haldis Ottershagen that she keeps on creating and working until such a age of 70. This is truly inspiring. I will update some of her works to my shop later. If you are interested in seeing all her works, please take contact with us to get a catalogue. She knits wool sweater and trousers, socks for Children at age of 2-10 years old.

Hairband

2011-12-04T13:54:00.000-08:00

The hair band which Anette is wearing is a piece of little work from Lene Nordum as well. She used to have a farm in Sweden, so she likes to work with fur. I am still waiting for her to write the description of her fur works. Just can not wait to post these set of pictures of funny Anette. Have a good start of a new week!

Knitting by Lene Nordum

2011-12-03T14:26:00.000-08:00

I grew up in 80's. It was a nice period of time to me and the world was not as hectic as it is now. North Europe is a place which can always bring me back to the golden 80's of mine. People are calm and life is simpler. Women do lots of knitting work. My mother, her girlfriends and our neighbors had been doing the same thing: Kitting hat, sweater, trousers, scarf, mittens, and whatever they could think of they can knit for the ones whom they love.

Kitting needs a calm heart and lots of patience. It feels like a meditation to me. I treasure all these hand-knitted works, and emotion which I attached to is beyond description. All the works in the above pictures are knitted by talented Norwegian craftswoman Lene Nordum. She made also some nice fur crafts work which I will introduce later. I will post some of her works to my shop. If you need a catalogue of the whole collection of her work, please take contact with us.

"Norwegian Hearts"

2011-11-30T14:25:00.000-08:00

Wooden Pendant

felt pencil case

-

I was overwhelmed seeing how much the Norwegian women love "the heart design" when I was new to be here in Norway. It is a culture, indeed! Norwegian people actually have warm and loving hearts which are underneath their "cool" character (I mean, they might need time to "warm up" to be friends with you if you compare them with people from South Europe ).

After 10 years living in Norway, I do feel that I am more Norwegian myself to some extents. I am physically and mentally much stronger than I was (thinking about a typical city woman who had never slept in a tent in the nature before she came to Norway.), as I have been learning so much from the Norwegian women. Now, when I see the "Norwegian Hearts" at shops, children's clothing and people's home , I accept it more to my heart. Anja and Anette love "hearts" as well. Oh, yes, they are Norwegian Girls afterall. (Is this "heart thing" a French one as well? dear Amelie. I know the English use lots of "hearts" to make things as well.)

For this Christmas, I am planning to introduce some small things which I design and made with a slice of Norwegian Accent. There will be also some little lovely things from two Norwegian craftswomen , whom I will introduce to you late on together with their works. I do this because I appreciate Norwegian culture and aesthetic more and more. This will be a little " Norwegian Design" introduction project, and it is so nice to have a blog to share with people and friends there.

Christmas Season

2011-11-29T05:31:00.000-08:00

felt pencil case

Wooden Pendant

I am preparing some small things with a slice of Scandinavian accent for this Christmas season. Will update the items to my online shop soon.

Into the Fog ---- Anette

2011-11-24T02:51:00.000-08:00

Anette has been growing really a lot since she became a primary student, either physically or mentally. She is taller than Anja was at 6 years of age. And she behaves totally different from she was one year before. She really likes to draw and make small paper craft things with tapes and etc. And she even asked to start to learn piano. I have to say it has advantage to have a big sister to look upon with and gets all the inspirations. She is also becoming better at being a happy girl for most of the time(I said before that she was a 气包子 kid with her own kind of strong opinion and attitude).

Of course, She disagrees with Anja sometimes. They argue and also make each other irritated and upset. She has to be always reminded to put on enough clothing (I don't understand why she doesn't like to put on a sweater under her dress. Doesn't she know it is not so funny to feel so cold?). And she messes up with her things everyday:( Well, otherwise, things go well with her. I have to say raising these two girls is a journey far more than one can see from the pictures I post here at this blog. It is a journey filled with smile, joy and pleasure, but also with tears, confusion, frustration, disappointment and so forth. I am trying to be honest here. Not very good at expressing myself, However, I think mothers can understand what I mean.

Last Sunday, before I took a couple of pictures including the last picture in this post with my EOS, than the battery was used up. What a "tragedy"!!!:) So, I had to use my small Canon IXUS to shoot the rest pictures. You can easily see the difference.

Two more pictures of Anette----in the wood.

Oslo Opera House

2011-11-23T02:27:00.000-08:00

We had a nice time at a concert in the Opera House of Oslo. It is Anja's first time to be in this nice Opera House. I was surprised to see that she is a little bit afraid of the height ;) See the 5th picture. Otherwise, everything went well. She also used binoculars to see some details. She told me the violinists have very relaxed arm and hand when they play. I told her who is the first violinist and where he sited. It was a concert for the memories Johannes Brahms . The director is John Helmer Fiore, Solo: Karen Gomyo, violin; and Chirstian Poltera, cello.

The Opera House is designed by Norwegian firm Snøhetta. The Opera House won the culture award at the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona in October 2008[4] and the 2009 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture. More information see here. I like the fact that the Opera House used lots of wood, which is very Norwegian, and lots of glass as well, which makes feel the parts of lightness and impression of modernism.( I don't know much about architecture, and this is only my very basic impression of this nice building. ) Norway is a very small country and the Norwegian are very proud of their nice Opera House:).

"

2011-11-21T02:05:00.000-08:00

A " warm" winter in November of Norway. No ice and no snow yet...

Into the Wood ---- Anette

2011-11-20T10:34:00.000-08:00

Isn't she cool? Norwegian wood....

Into the Fog ---- Anja

2011-11-20T07:40:00.000-08:00

It is a cold, foggy and wet Sunday. I took a walk with the girls to the woods. The girls are happy no matter what the weather is . However, they spoke and laughed loudly as usual so I had to separate them a bit to keep the noise down. They had a good time in the woods anyway. The light was not so good in the woods so almost all the pictures take are blurred. I will post pictures of Anette in the next post.

Next Thursday evening, I will take Anja to the Oslo Opera House to a concert together with some children and teachers from her Music School. It will be the first time that Anja will visit the Oslo Opera House. It will be dark anyway outside. Let me see if I can take some pictures of her inside. It is winter now and day time is really short in North Europe. Anyway, I will pick up my mood to take picture of the girls, my ordinary days and life here in Norway. It should be the things which I enjoy most to do, so I will do it more....For the enjoyment and happiness of myself.

Winter 冬至

2011-11-16T12:49:00.000-08:00

This is on my way of exercising. Winter comes and it will snow very soon. The fields are covered by frost and the air is chilly. The last piece of green color in the field is saying goodbye to me: See you again when spring comes...

Anja played solo: Koncert G dur by Vivaldi at a concert tonight. She had been practicing this piece for almost the whole month. It is a pity that she played a bit wrong with the notes in the middle. Maybe she is not so used to play with the pianist and she rehearsed with him for a couple of times before the concert. Actually, she plays much more nicer at home than she did in the concert. I suppose this is the way to which things sometimes would go and I must get use to it. She felt OK and did not burst into tear afterwards. I told her that she played very well even though it was a mistake there. Other parents come to us and gave Anja very good comments and nice words about her performing. She smiled and looked happy.

To some extents, I am learning together with her during this process: what is perfection? what is the most important thing should be in our heart while learning music? how to enjoy this process .... it seems that it applies to my clothing designing and making process as well:)

*

2011-11-16T02:12:00.000-08:00

I bought myself a fur or leather jacket at a vintage shop in Oslo this Monday. It is style of old fashion and uses material which is not popular anymore. And it is quite heavy. I don't know why I am quite nostalgic for lots of the times. I love old buildings, old fashion lifestyle, ....things with a history behind. As for this piece, the workmanship is very exquisite and delicate---- very typical old style of tailoring and sewing.

Iza--- She is Such a Jewel！

2011-11-13T13:23:00.000-08:00

This set of picture of Iza wearing my work is so dreamy and poetic. And Iza is such a jewel to me!
Collecting pictures of " little jewels" from all over the world is absolutely that I enjoy so much to do.
Thanks, dear Alliot! You and beautiful Iza have given the blouse a new soul which is shining through on Iza!

Play with Curtain

2011-11-13T04:45:00.000-08:00

* A Little Record of Myself

2011-11-05T15:46:00.000-07:00

Clear up pictures in the computer. Found these two small paintings which I painted in year 2005. I don't know when I will pick up the brush again, but I will. I am happy that I am finally on the way toward "art and design", as I wished many years ago while this "art and design" thing seemed so far away from my reality then. I just keep telling myself that this is only a beginning but definitely to the right direction now.

Elsa---Brings a Beautiful November

2011-11-02T12:56:00.000-07:00

My beautiful angel, Elsa, thank you and your wonderful mother!

Elsa is wearing a typical Chinese style jacket from Naive Days.

I am so glad I started this journey almost 2 years ago, and Naive Days has brought me all these good things which are more than what I had expected . Thank you, dear all!

Light Ahead

2011-10-31T12:30:00.000-07:00

We have had the whole October without any snowing. That is so good for my daily workout. It would be more tricky to run outdoors when it starts to snow. My little camera behaviors really good as well:) Love the light it captures. However, I also look forward the first snow, and think of take nice pictures:) Have a nice evening, my friends.

5 KM

2011-10-28T14:59:00.000-07:00

It is weekend again! I had been jogging for 5 km 3 days this week. I had never thought I could run so long. I was a young lady with quite bad marks to Physical Education at school. It usual requires the students to run not more than a time limit for qualification. And I hate this. After all, when I came to Norway, I began to do as the local people do---- to go for a walk in the Nature. I found it is quite enjoyable to do this while I had never tried to jog in Norway. I thought I was too old to do it. And then, this Tuesday, I suddenly wanted to give a try. Then, I made it. I did jog when I lived in Singapore 10 years ago, but had never jogged more than 2.5 km. I don't know how much time I have used for this 5 km. I don't care. It was the "time limit" thing made me so terrified at running. Now, I will make it a pure enjoyment and do not take the "time" as a big issue.

Thinking about my "cloth making", I know how should I do with it : I will try to make the nicest clothing with good quality as much as possible. I will make this thing into a sheer enjoyment. I will definitely not allow the "time" issue bother me anymore. After all, I do this, for pleasure, for celebration of life, but not for the "result".

Dear friends, thanks for your warm comments and nice word as always. I really appreciate it. Have a very nice weekend!

Source of the first picture: Here.

A Bird with an Attitude

2011-10-27T05:18:00.000-07:00

When I saw the first picture of Chinese painter Lin Feng Mian , I thought about Anette immediately:)

Anette was such (气包子) a kid with "some attitudes" for sometimes when she was around 4-5 years old. She is better at being a good girl now since she became a primary school student in the end of this August .

A little note for fun for myself:)

Nea ----for Good Memory!

2011-10-26T12:25:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to see this----Nea in my green wool dress!

Oh, she is such a beautiful angel...

Thanks, dear Yanyan!

Autumn Concert

2011-10-23T18:07:00.000-07:00

Anja played the autumn concert together with other children from the local Junior Orchestra this Sunday. I had never thought that the view from the picture above would happen to my own children. I feel emotional when I see her dressing in black or white (dress code of the Junior Orchestra) and playing classic music which I listened from radio when I was as young as she is.

I have not been intending to let her to go for my own dreams, well, it happens. She is realizing the dream of her mother. I recalled on day two years ago, a neighbor (she is also my good friend) told me the local Junior Orchestra was recruiting apprentice and would have a seminar that evening. We showed up in the seminar and handed in our application form. I had never known the existence of this local orchestra before that day. A year later, we got the admission notice while the daughter of my girlfriend did not get it . Anja was lucky enough even though she has a kind of blurred mother. We are so much blessed! Thanks for this.

We will definitely send Anette to do the same thing. Actually, she is waiting in the line now.

Ashes and Snow

2011-10-21T15:02:00.000-07:00

I'm struggling in relearning what I knew as a child that enabled me to see animals with clear eyes.
Without that clarity even my ears seem to miss much of the sublime music of nature...
What a lonely species we have become.
The longer I watch the savannah elephants,
the more I listen, the more I open.
They remind me of who I am...

May the guardian elephants hear my wish
to collaborate with all the musicians of nature's orchestra.
I want to join the dance that has no steps.
I want to become the Dance."

- excerpt from Ashes and Snow: A Novel in Letters by Gregory Colbert

Source: Here.

2011-10-18T14:49:00.000-07:00

Anja was doing a little practicing before going to the violin lesson.

Hello? who is there coming back home? are you Pappa? She was not very concentrated this time ;)

Rainy Day 雨雾

2011-10-17T11:42:00.000-07:00

It has been a rainy day today. Not cold. I went out for a trip and took some pictures. Music and nature has been the good company all the time. Will soon begin to make some more winter clothing for the children.

微雨无风，出去运动拍照。山林的顶端，雨雾飘荡。很欣慰自己对拍照片还有着些兴趣，在最初的疯狂拍片阶段过去以后。亦知拍得好不好不重要，重要的是还能乐在其中，摁动快门的一霎那，感到心中的平静。

Sunday

2011-10-16T12:34:00.000-07:00

Top: Here.

Robe: Here.

It was quite windy today, and went out for a 2 hours' trip anyway together with the girls.

Stay calm, make clothing, take pictures, and read books...Isn't it good, Norwegian Wood?!

Saturday

2011-10-15T06:52:00.000-07:00

Tathagata 如来如去

2011-10-14T03:03:00.000-07:00

Friend recommended this music to me. Chinese composer, He Xun-tian made this CD. Love it so much!

I am thinking that you might like it as well:) Take a look HERE , especially like the part which starts at 3:10: so full of life! 充满了清新和蓬勃的生命力。

Have a nice weekend, my dear friends!

^

2011-10-13T11:30:00.000-07:00

This is a test again: I am testing the whole layout of the new template and the different size of pictures:) Don't use your precious time to write any comments, my dear friends.

*

2011-10-12T07:10:00.000-07:00

This is a test.

The Nature 自然给与力量

2011-10-10T12:32:00.000-07:00

每个人都朝着莫测的未来，随着环境和偶然，向着荣誉或屈辱攀登。可能要永远地陷入理想的沟壑，像一只跌进陷阱的狼。为了不感到时间那可怕的沉重，应该永远地沉醉，更加缓慢的时间包含着更多思想，致力于精神劳作，被一种不可抗拒的力量推向行动，通过意志的每日运用，在孤独中创造。

----by 波德莱尔 Charles Baudelaire

One Late Afternoon in Beijing 午后北京

2011-10-07T10:22:00.000-07:00

When we drove pass this area 百万庄 in the west part of Beijing. I saw this kind of old gray three floor flat. That is very typical "old" style flat in Beijing. At that moment of taking this picture, I dreamed that I moved back to Beijing and rent an apartment in this building. I go down stairs and buy groceries and food in the small shops near by. I meet friends and eat in the small restaurant not far away from where I live....

We were waiting by the side of street for Auntie who was going to a bookstore nearby to buy some travel books for her holiday trip in Japan. I bought Anette some local food. She tried it and kind of liked it. The late afternoon light was nice.....I like this kind of "daily life" pictures which we took in Beijing. I suppose it is because that I wish for living there for real, ...so I pretend, and I imagine....

A Beautiful Day....

2011-10-05T14:01:00.000-07:00

Thank you, dear Amelie, at least, you have made another beautiful day in my life!

Much love to my little beautiful French friend, Elsa...

Elas is wearing a dress from Naive Days 2010 Summer Collection.

Change of Texture

2011-10-05T02:11:00.000-07:00

This is a piece of sample clothing which was made almost two years ago. Anette wears it often, and it is in gray blue color. The change of texture is so interesting after time's washing. I have to admit that I am quite indulged in this "clothing thing" that I can not wait to this morning to take the above two pictures in the daylight from yesterday evening. Actually it is only sheer enjoyment....I guess I am finally on the way now.

创作，于我是一种生的必需。是与众人分享我的内心世界，分享我对世人的爱，分享我灵魂中最美好的，最自由的和最渴望的东西。让我们从很多不曾谋面的人那里汲取到力量，让我们的生命得以延续到未来，也触摸到过去。

----马可 EXCEPTION例外

View from the window in the morning light.

The Beauty of Handmade 手工之美

2011-10-04T06:25:00.000-07:00

Children Clothing: Naive Days 2011/12 AW Collection

" Tangible, sensual, and personal, ....they suggest that craft and design are ultimately about the relationship established between makers of th things and the individuals who, by selecting and using those things, complete the creative process."

----

Paul J. Smith

from book Objects for Use: Handmade by Design, 2001.

Anette (6 years old) handmade this notebook all by herself, the whole idea.

This is a present to her grandmother : )

Fall 秋天

2011-10-03T01:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, took a long trip together with Anette. The air after rain was so fresh. Feel very calm deep in my heart. I know that I am lucky of living in the nature. It gives me everything...., which I need, especially courage and great inspiration!

A Piece of Green in Beijing 北京的绿

2011-10-01T14:58:00.000-07:00

There does have this kind of green and peace in the outskirts of Beijing. Sometimes, I really miss Beijing and China. I know how chaotic it is there now in big cities such as Beijing....Well, still, I dream about my life after retirement....I will definitely live a quite life somewhere in China with a whole piece of green and peace....And I will go to the park to do the morning exercise, and talk with old people and friends in Mandarin; I will use time to make good food, take care of plants, read books, make some small things and do not bother to think much at all....

Untitled

2011-10-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

Very seldom to see a picture of Anja, which shows that she is upset or angry. Actually, she is always happy and showing a smiling face.

We went to a big shopping center earlier today and wandered around in the sport section. I was looking for a pair of jogging pants and Pappa was helping out. Anja suddenly saw the bicycle section and was fascinated to try out the bicycles. Pappa, Anette and I walked further down to the neighbor section to find my jogging pants. 2 minutes later, I suddenly realized that I needed to go back to look for Anja. Then I saw she was there looking for us and with tears in her eyes. I always treat her as a very big girl for this couple of years, comparing her to 6 year old Anette. However, I realized at the moment that she is still a little girl who really needs our attention all the time. I felt so sorry and carried her in my arms even though she is probably too big in size to be carried like this. Anja said to me, Mamma, you and Pappa can not walk away from me like that. 爸爸讨厌. (Pappa is annoying because he is supposed to be together with her.) I apologized, sorry Anja. Mamma will not walk away from you anymore. ...we will be by your side all the time, I mean not only physically,......So, don't be afraid....

From Viola To Violin

2011-09-27T13:46:00.000-07:00

Anja's teacher suggested last week that Anja could switch to learning to play violin instead of viola. Yes, we would like to! Actually, in the first place, we wished that she could learn to play violin. However, it seemed that she did not manage to get one of the "hot seats" for learning violin at this music school. The teacher said Anja is a student with high capacity of learning and violin fits better to her. I don't know much about instrument playing, however, I am glad that Anja has a teacher who is thinking for the best interest of Anja. Anja will also take an extra 40 minutes lesson every two weeks from next week. I am not intending to push her much of this playing violin matter while it seems that she does have the time and energy to do this.And she still enjoys it and thinks it is cool to be a violinist:). She is so lucky that she is going to school in Norway instead of in Beijing. The workload at School in Norway is really light, maybe too light to my concern.

Today is the first day of Anja's violin lesson. I am overwhelmed by the bright light through the windows. Violin is such a beautiful instrument, and I am dreaming that Anja can play as beautifully as her teacher does one day in the future. ....

Visited her ducks as usual on the way to music school. Children have natural connection with birds, animals, fish,.....Actually, the water, the ducks, the light, the shadow, the color, how beautiful they are! Why I was so blind before?!

My Mongolian Princess ....

2011-09-26T10:57:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to receive these pictures today: this is my sweet and beautiful Mongolian Princess, Sally:) ....

She is wearing one green top and black pant from Naive Days 2011 /2012 Autumn Winter Collection.

What a honor! My Sweet heart....thanks for your inspiration!

-
She is sending me one big kiss, how sweet! Much love to you, my sweet heart!

¤

2011-09-24T14:39:00.000-07:00

My dear children, there is nothing more happier then we create all this together from nothing

but a dream...

Naive Days 2011/12 AW Collection

2011-09-24T14:01:00.000-07:00

Top: here.

Pant: here.

Find the collection here: thank you!

The web page is updated as well: here.

Hou Hai in Beijing 后海

2011-09-21T14:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends, Anja and I feel extremely honored and happy that we got so much blessing from your nice ladies on Anja's 8 year birthday. Anja wish to say thank you so much and give big hugs to all dear aunties and big sisters here at this blogspot sphere. I wish to say thank you to you all as well. What a beautiful day that we had had because of your blessing, my dear friends.!!!

Here is another day in Beijing during our summer holidays in China. As you may see, the pictures I took may look very ordinary. I almost forgot how to take pictures in Beijing. I mean, I was lost in the memories of the good old golden days of my childhood. I was almost the same age as Anette is, which is 6 year old. It was kind of overwhelming walking together with her in the old areas of Beijing. So, I was not able to concentrate to do the photographing. However, somehow, I think like this : one of the nice meaning of photography is "for memories". Yes, for memories, but not only for the sake of creative art works. I feel much better to think like this and therefore, dare to show you ladies all these very ordinary, but sweet, pictures in my eyes:p)

Will catch up with your ladies soon....

This is Hou Hai in Beijing. We did a lot of ice skating and swimming there when we were small.

暮色四起的后海

Anette's jacket: Here.

Anja is 8 today!

2011-09-19T03:42:00.000-07:00

She is 8 years old today. Happy birthday, dear Anja!

Website is updated as well :) Here.

Isn't It Too Much? 这也太臭美了吧

2011-09-18T14:08:00.000-07:00

I need some help, please give me your opinion and advice.... Isn't it too much? We were driving to a friend this weekend. These two girls were so excited and had been busy dressing up themselves. They did put on some make-up as well ( lipstick and little bit eye shadow).

What kind of point of view or attitude should I have? ??? Anja has learned a lot from the big girls at school (She even asked me to buy her mascara once, and I rejected her request of course ), and Anette has learned a lot from Anja..... I don't think I emphasis much on this "beauty thing" usually....What I always say to them is "be kind and think for others, not only yourself.." How should I react to their attention of "being pretty"???

Here we go, I know more issues are coming on the way....

Good Accompany 陪伴

2011-09-14T14:13:00.000-07:00

She is my good accompany. I go for long walk quite often with her. She said that she is soon 8 year old and big enough to be the accompany to go for a walk with me. Her smile lights my heart when I feel lonely, and she always opens my eyes and brings me into a beautiful new world....She talks a lot and loud. She messes up her room and things. She always plays first after school..... However, I am so blessed and thankful to have her in my life.

心无旁骛, 专注得

孤独，很美。自有所获。

雨后初秋的小白果，

晶莹通透。

Beijng 2011 Today Art Museum 今日美术馆

2011-09-11T14:51:00.000-07:00

The above picture is my own photography "art work" :p)

Today Museum in Beijing. Not so many people in the museum, Anette and I had a good time there. I took many pictures of her that day, and it is such an enjoyable thing to do ---- taking pictures of your small kid and seeing her wandering around and running up and down stairs.......

Beijing 2011 Millitary Museum 军博

2011-09-09T15:25:00.000-07:00

We were visiting Military Museum in Beijing. It was Daddy's idea. Anette was together with Daddy to see what he is interested in. I brought Anja along with me. There was a military art exhibition so I had some thing to see. Unfortunately, it was a not nice one for me though. Maybe I am biased to the word " Military".

The museum was built in 50's . It is an architecture in the style of former Soviet Union. The scale and volume of space is huge, the lighting is tremendous, the materials which are used are spectacular. ...It is so interesting to experience these Communist Architectures coming back to China. The years of living in a capitalist country have given me some new perspective to look at the things which I was grown up with in China. ...not easy to articulate though.

The lady with 3 children in the painting is Mao's first wife. She was killed in the Civil war during 30's.

Beijing 2011 Hutong 2

2011-09-07T14:37:00.000-07:00

The pictures I took would probably show a part of the "real" Beijing ------the part of Beijing which is so messy, gray, not modern at all, smell of the ordinary people's daily life.... And, this is the part I love most. I hope it would be like these forever ....

Music sharing: here

Beijing 2011 Hutong 胡同

2011-09-05T08:38:00.000-07:00

I had been growing up in a small Hutong in Beijing. The color of Beijing was gray in my little mind. It has been staying the same after all these years , luckily.

It was a nice early summer day. Anette stood under the sun. I saw the "6 year old myself" ...

It feels so nice to bring her back to a place where I spend my childhood.

This is so precious to me! For memory....

Music sharing: here.

Naive Days 2011/12 AW Collection has Come to the Shop.....

2011-09-01T03:37:00.000-07:00

Naive Days 2011/12 AW Collection has come to our online shop, here.

This collection is inspired by the heaven in my heart: Mongolian Prairie. The name of Naive Days 2011/12 AW Collection is Mongolia, Mongolia.....

This collection is delicate to my Little Mongolian princess Sally: wish you well and lots of love to you, my dear sweetheart!

Please see our website and also here for the concept of this season's collection.

The Great Inspiration!

Share a piece of beautiful Mongolian Music: here.

Source of pictures : here.

Untitled

2011-08-30T12:49:00.000-07:00

Lack of words as always.

Maybe I should learn myself more about photographing...

I enjoy doing it so much.

Naive Days 2011-2012 Autumn Winter Collection----Black/ Green 黛 . 蓝

2011-08-30T12:36:00.000-07:00

Naive Days 2011-2012 Autumn Winter Collection----Black/ Green 墨 . 绿

2011-08-29T14:08:00.000-07:00

Naive Days 2011-2012 Autumn Winter Collection----Wheat Field 麦田

2011-08-29T02:59:00.000-07:00

Mongolian Prairie 天边

2011-08-29T01:08:00.000-07:00

Music: here.

I never thought that the years of living in Inner Mongolia at my teenage and youth time had been building up such a strong emotional connection to the beautiful green Mongolian Prairie. This summer, I was back to the Prairie again then I suddenly realized why I am so attracted to colors such as: green , white, blue......It is an "inside me" who wish to express her love, emotions and strong feelings to the Prairie. Just wish my design of this 2011/12 AW collection can show a slice beauty of Mongolian Prairie.

This collection is delicate to my Little Mongolian princess Sally: wish you well and lots of love to you, my dear sweetheart!

Naive Days 2011-2012 Autumn Winter Collection----Grey Day Light 灰色天光

2011-08-26T10:09:00.000-07:00

不知道做这一切的意义是什么，孤独为伴。却心生美好。
只有扑捉到的这些光影是最大的慰籍...
灰色真美。

Becoming a Cooler Primary School Student or Maybe Not?!

2011-08-24T08:49:00.000-07:00

Anette 's first week of her primary school life. She wants to be as cool as possible, she said so! :)

However, she hasn't lost her sweet smile yet, luckily :p)

Light of A Rainy Day

2011-08-24T06:04:00.000-07:00

Naive Days 2011-2012 Autumn Winter Collection----China in my Heart.

2011-08-23T10:37:00.000-07:00

Naive Days 2011-2012 Autumn Winter Collection -----China Blue

2011-08-22T12:54:00.000-07:00

My dear friends, it is another season. I am busy of taking pictures of Naive Days 2011-2012 Autumn Winter Collection. The plan is to make everything ready for sale by the end of August. Can not wait to share with you a few pictures of the collections in the first place. As for the pictures of our China trip, just be a little bit patient. It is coming soon while I need to finish taking pictures of Naive Days 2011-2012 Autumn Winter Collection first :). Have a great start of a wonderful week! Thanks for your warm comments-----they brighten my heart.

We are back to Norway: )

2011-08-18T06:53:00.000-07:00

Summer is almost over in Norway. Very comfortable weather, only 17 degree Celsius in daytime.....

Will visit your ladies soon:)

We are off to Beijing....

2011-05-14T14:14:00.000-07:00

Anja in Beijing in 2009

Anette and I will be leaving for Beijing tomorrow. And we will be there for a while. Thanks for all the best wishes of all my dear friends! I will miss you and all those my little friends of Angel...

Though I am not so sure if I can do it, I will try to post pictures of us in Beijing at our website, here, since blogspot is blocked in China. Maybe our website is blocked as well, not sure yet.

Email me: , if you have anything that you wish and I can do for you in China, my dear friends! Have a very good summer, and see you again in the middle of August!

Iza

2011-05-14T13:04:00.000-07:00

I had never known that there do have angels in the world...beautiful Iza is one of them!

To see the pictures of Iza dressing in Naive Days , having fun and traveling around in this beautiful world makes me so happy and so grateful ....to all the nicest things happened in my life.

Thanks, dear Alliot. For everything!

Precious...

2011-05-13T10:51:00.000-07:00

We got a parcel yesterday. It was a present parcel to Anja and Anette from my dear friend Amelie and her beautiful girl, Elsa! . This is truly precious.... we are so blessed. Thank you! Dear Amelie and Elsa! Anja picked the blue and Anette picked the golden yellow!; )

I could not managed to log in to this blog from yesterday, so strange!!! It will be an other post before I leave for Beijing this Sunday.

Anja plays " Water Music"

2011-05-10T14:30:00.000-07:00

To you, dear Alliot: A little video of Anja plays viola. She was doing the rehearsal with her teacher before the concert. She started to learn playing viola last October. So, don't place a big expectation on her:p)

I am happy that she still enjoys playing viola, plus, she just asked us to allow her to train on playing football at school: ). She is very lucky to live in Norway.

Beautiful China...

2011-05-04T13:53:00.000-07:00

It will be always the place for me to go back to and for source of strength and inspiration----

China.

Source of the last three pictures here.

Norwegian Wood to Yujuan

2011-05-02T12:12:00.000-07:00

My little girlfriend who is only 33 years old died of breast cancer two weeks ago. She was a very young outstanding lecture in Fudan University, which is one of the top 5 universities in China. She got her PhD in University of Oslo and other two master degree. Just after she began to work after many years of study life and gave birth to a baby boy, she found out she got the breast cancer. She fought for a year before she had to go... She wished that she could live longer, and it doesn't matte that if she is a handicapped beggar crawling on the street and seeing her son going to kindergarten every morning. ....

She fought so harder to the extreme pain to live for a minute longer...She said to die is easy but not to live. Her husband sold the flat for the treatment and she got some donations. She transfered the donation to her hometown Jining in ShanDong province to the project of "Norwegian Wood" in her home town. ...... (She wished to bring "Norwegian wood" to her hometown in Shandong province in China. )

Dear Yujuan, I know you miss the Norwegian wood, the set of pictures is delicate to you. Come to visit us in our dreams. We miss you....

Her blog in Chinese is here. Quite low these days, will come back and visit your ladies later.

Elsa

2011-04-25T13:45:00.001-07:00

Thank you , dear Amelie and Elas, nothing can be more rewarding than seeing these pictures. I am so thrilled... Sweet heart Elas, thank you for making my work look so beautiful!

Note: Elsa is wearing a dress from Naive Days.

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Under the Sky

2011-04-24T12:24:00.000-07:00

I love her adventurous and free spirit.

I did take her safety into my mind and that is why I took so close up pictures...I was close enough and ready to catch her if she falls.

Time For Dreams

2011-04-22T14:21:00.000-07:00

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The music: Time for dreams.

Tenderness

2011-04-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

Clearing up the girls' "old" clothing, packing some them and thinking of giving them to my girlfriend in Beijing. My girlfriend in Beijing just gave birth to a baby girl and she asked for some "old" clothing from Anja and Anette .

This little light yellow dress is Anette's baptizing dress, which she only used one or two times before she grew out of it very quickly. I miss the girls' baby hood. It is good that not all of their babyhood are fading away while they are growing up so fast, I still have this little light yellow dress, for example, hanging there beautifully on the wall . I feel the tenderness in my heart.... It is so nice to be a mother.

Calmness

2011-04-20T06:10:00.000-07:00

I like my life which I am living now. Maybe it is not as "热闹----bustled with noise and excitement" as before when I was young, however, it fits with my age and my heart very well, it is calm....So nice.

Bought a new summer scarf.... one side is silk and another side is wool. I like the softness.

News

2011-04-17T13:09:00.001-07:00

Website and shop are updated. Please take a look. A few more new spring pieces are coming on the way:)

草绿了，你长得太快了。

2011-04-16T12:22:00.000-07:00

这个星期草绿了。拍了好多你的片子。你长得太快了。我想着, 阳光下有着你天真无邪笑脸的时光会转瞬即逝。正如北欧短暂的春夏，心里就格外珍惜起来。

This week, the grass is getting greener but not the grass in my garden. Anette is growing way too fast... Anja is already no more Mummy's little girl.

Happy Easter! Another New Piece....

2011-04-16T11:18:00.001-07:00

It is fun to play a little bit with color. The beautiful Norwegian spring has given me the inspiration! The spring green blouse is a new piece for Easter from Naive Days. Come to online shop tomorrow.

Dancing in a Dream

2011-04-15T13:42:00.001-07:00

When I was editing this set of picture, I recalled that I danced a lot alone secretly when nobody is at home. I don't know much of music but it had been my friend since I was very young. It was a special period of time in 70-80s. I grew up lonely while hardly remember my Mum's eyesight on me. She was busy working. ...

I am so grateful of this digital age----this blog and the digital camera. One day, Anette and Anja will read this blog and realize how nice that mummy had record all these precious moments. And they must understand while maybe I am not a perfect mummy, I have been trying to be a better mummy( and person) and paying them as much attention as possible to them.

P.S Anette is wearing a robe from here.
We were hearing music from Joe Hisaishi .

Another Concert

2011-04-12T12:45:00.000-07:00

Anja played another concert in the church earlier today. She is busier than me now. Tomorrow will be swimming. The day after tomorrow she will go to a classmate's home and have dinner together with her....... We arrived at the church earlier in order to practice a bit with her teacher. She is standing there waiting for her turn while listening to the others.

Anette's new favorite hair band from yesterday :) God must have laughed at the two big pink flowers on top of her head:)

Having Fun Together with Mummy at Home

2011-04-11T07:49:00.001-07:00

Thank you! my dear friends, for your nice and warm words!

Easter is around the corner. So, so many yellow color everywhere, especially in the stops. Spring is a very happy season for people who live in North Europe. The long night and cold gray days are over, finally. :)

Anette and I tried to have little fun together today. I am going to make the girls a few more pieces spring dresses and this is the first one :) I thought she would reluctantly to put on the pink flowers. However, She likes it at once. I never thought Anette is such a "high-key" kid----she even went to the kindergarten, which is our neighbor, to show her teachers and friends how she dresses her hair and her new dress:p)

We are going to China Embassy in Oslo tomorrow to apply for the visa back to China. It will be fun for Anette to take the 30 minutes' train to Oslo as well. And I will buy myself a present ----an apple green Marimekko bowl, to celebrate this beautiful season.

Anette graduates from Kindergarten

2011-04-10T14:36:00.000-07:00

This picture is taken by her kindergarten teacher.

Even though we don't have much green color in the field yet, the spring is definitely in the air. The wind is much warmer, and trees feel greener. Anette is ready to enter primary school and become a student this autumn.

Anette will go back to China with me in May, therefor she graduated from the kindergarten bit earlier than the other kids. Got some pictures of her from the kindergarten. Four years feels just like a moment to me. I still remember I bought her a kindergarten backpack four years ago . ...

This picture is taken in July, 2007.