Arne og Carlos

Carlos (L) & Arne (R)

 
At long last the promised post about Arne & Carlos. If you live outside Scandinavia you are forgiven for not knowing about this dynamic knitting duo - often referred to as "strikning guruer" by the press, yes knitting gurus! 

First a little introductory video:
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=FoDghBI3F34&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%

I was invited to join a group of knitters who went to an October afternoon lecture by Arne & Carlos at the Louisiana Museum http://www.louisiana.dk/uk in conjunction with the New Nordic exhibit. They were introducing their new book "Strikke-Dukker" (Knitted Dolls) and also discussing what led to their gradual transition and shift away from fashion and knitwear design, to becoming authors. Their now famous "Julekugler" (55 Knitted Christmas Balls) book, which is currently the best selling title in Norway, has inspired many knitters to take up teeny (3mm) double pointed needles and start knitting these christmas balls with intricate traditional Norwegian designs.

As the talk was in Danish, I obviously only inferred what details I could from the photos Arne & Carlos shared. Judging from the animated response from the audience and the amount of laughter they were clearly entertaining presenters! I enjoyed the atmosphere and embarked on my very own first julekugler while they spoke. After the book signing we actually got to meet them. It ws fun to hear how they are now promoting their books overseas. They have a book tour planned in Februrary for the US west coast.

Here is ball #1 in construction (only #2 - #55 to go!!) It could be a while before our Christmas tree is decorated with many different fair isle' red and white julekugler.

Here are some julekugler at different stages of the process knitted by Arne & Carlos.

Once smitten, twice ... not shy but energized. When Arne & Carlos mentioned they would be at the annual Danish Bog Forum (Book Fair) mid November and we were welcome to join them and knit at the booth - we were adding the date to our iCalendars faster than you can say knitting needle. So on a grey foggy Copenhagen wintry day I made the journey out to the vast conference complex south of the city center where I spent the afternoon knitting and chatting = perfect combination.

The art of knitting is a very big part of Scandinavian culture. When you are riding on the bus or train you often see knitters at work, and many of the knitting shops have "knit-in" sessions in the afternoon, or the evening. Now my Danish course has started my knitting time has been greatly reduced!

Don't you love these striped tights

 

 

Of course there are patterns for gorgeous knitted dolls clothes too

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOUISIANA Museum of Modern Art

At the top of my 'must-see' list for any visitor to Copenhagen is the fabulous LOUISIANA Museum of Modern Art. While discussing our impending move to Denmark with my doctor, Karen, she proclaimed "oh you must go to Louisiana, it's my favorite museum in the world!" So it was a great tip, we visited our first weekend and it was the highlight sandwiched between endless trips to IKEA, and secondly it was an unexpected perk of my annual physical to discuss modern art with my lovely Colorado doctor.



Anyway I digress already, back to the museum. It's a 35 minute train ride north from central Copenhagen to the town of Humblebaek, located on the coast overlooking the Oresund. The setting is stunning. From the entrance it looks like an unassuming white country house, covered in ivy. What first hits you is the view out over the lawns behind the house looking across the sea to Sweden.

I have lived in Denmark for a mere three months, but have already visited Louisiana five times. If I could ignore the daily demands of 'home-keeping' I'd be there every week. A great gift was a museum membership +1, which now means unlimited museum visits and I can take a guest. 

http://www.louisiana.dk/uk/Menu/Visit+Louisiana
The museum is designed in an arc with series of interconnecting buildings branching off from the original house. The indoor display space is framed by the sculpture park outside which you can access from many points. Regardless of the day or the weather, a massive Henry Moore reclining woman on the main lawn, and an Alexander Calder mobile outside the cafe always draw ones eye.

My parents came to stay last weekend on their first trip to Denmark. So they had barely had a chance to explore Copenhagen before they were on the train Louisiana bound with me! Friday we were blessed with perfect early winter weather: bright blue skies, crisp cold air, crunchy leaves underfoot, and traces of ice crystals from the freeze the night before. 

As many of you know I have an obsession with the sea - and seek out opportunities to be by the water, in the water, traveling to water .... At the far end of the south wing I discovered this sculpture, which I absolutely love due to the humour and the sense of possibility. It makes me think of  Buzz Lightyear and want to shout out "to infinity and beyond" (BL is the astronaut toy from Toy Story movie if he is unfamiliar to you). Thankfully for my parents I just thought this and didn't create a commotion in this tranquil gallery space.

The highlight of my most recent visit was to take another look at the "NEW NORDIC architecture & identity" exhibit which closes at the beginning of November. To quote the book that accompanies the exhibition:

"Is there a Nordic identity? Can one still speak of what has been called the Nordic way? Can we, despite the tendency of globalization to wipe out national and cultural differences, still speak at all of identity as something associated with particular places, areas or regions? How has Nordic identity developed alongside the development of the rest of the world?" 

It truly is one of the most thought provoking exhibits I have seen - here are a few images to give you an idea.

 As you can see it also catered for my love of all things "wool-related". Next up will be about Arne & Carlos famous for their "Julekugler" & "Strikke-Dukker" (Christmas Balls & Knitted Dolls - doesn't sound nearly as fun in English as in Danish does it!)

To scarf, or not to scarf, that is the question

The weather has really turned autumnal here during the past week. Chilly temperatures overnight, the leaves are starting to change, and conkers (buckeyes) are dropping from the horse chestnut trees in droves.

We have discovered that the heating in apartment buildings is generally not turned on until after October 1st. It is dependent on the date not the thermometer reading! As a result our spacious living room is currently not at all cosy in the evenings. The shift to autumn/fall has prompted to me to begin a new knitting project: a ribbed orange scarf [thanks go to Lisa C for the wonderful birthday gift of this glorious hand-dyed wool]

Stay tuned for a photo of this blog writer/knitter wearing above vibrant (& warm) scarf coiled several times around the neck to resemble a giant turtleneck. I will almost blend in except that my scarf will stand out in the sea of cream, grey, and black scarves on show.


Which in a rambling way brings me to the opening quote "To scarf, or not to scarf, that is the question". I can say in Denmark it is a definitive 'to scarf'. An informal visual survey on a ten minute walk home this afternoon gave me a 9/10 women wearing scarves, and about 3/10 men. Today the weather is not especially windy, if it was that would increase the number of male scarf wearers. 

Danes of all ages sport scarves, the current trend seems to be huge thick woolen circular scarves. Having noticed the scarf-ing style, I am now constantly observing the number of new ways I have seen scarves tied. As many of you know I have always had a 'thing' for scarves .... so living here I can indulge in wearing several different scarves for different outings all in one day! When I first emigrated to the US in the mid-90's I distinctly remember a comment from a co-worker at the Boulder Bookstore about how my scarf wearing was "so European".

A thank you to the Copenhageners who were unwitting models in my random photo shoot this afternoon on Oster Farimagsgade. Happy scarf wearing to you all....

To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Whether 'tis Nobler in the mind to suffer
The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune,
Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them: to die, to sleep
No more; and by a sleep, to say we end
The heart-ache, and the thousand Natural shocks
That Flesh is heir to? 'Tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wished.

Hamlet's solioquy
from Hamlet by William Shakespeare