The chickens have moved from the boring basement to under the Moa Hoff-poster in our hall. And they have grown! In three weeks time a chicken has already lost their egg tooth (the small spike on the top of the beak which they use when they break through the egg shell), changed the feather mail and learnt how to scrabble for food and to sit on a stick while sleeping.

They are still hard to catch on film (as they constantly move) but my favorite, Traste, is a true photogénique. (Handsome isn't he?! Or she?) And yes, we indeed live a very bird intense life at the moment. The small ones need fresh water at least 4 times a day, the are not very quiet at night when the rest of us are trying to sleep, and in the mornings Dunet waits barking outside our door, hungry and exacting.

I really like the new artwork made by Erik Heybroek. Erik showed his paintings/collages in Mörtfors this weekend and they are so good! Pieces from magazines and photos are mixed with painted parts and glued to the canvas. In 1961, as a 7-year old, Erik came to Mörtfors from Holland, and has actually grew up in the same house where me and my family now live. Above photos show the artwork in full, as well as smaller parts. Both very inspiring! (Click pics, please, to see them a bit better!)

Artikel om Erik.

Some photos from just before exhibition opening here in Mörtfors. My Ingamaj illustrations, and a row of seven dry-point men, printed on paper bags many years ago (and found in a drawer just this last week). The textile work is made by Christina Lokrantz. Next blog post: Erik Heybroek.

Dreaming about travelling? Brooklyn Flea

This weekend: the art event eart22, and the small exhibition in Magasinet, Mörtfors, 11:00 - 18:00, will take place in this part of Småland. And the guesthouse Mörtfors Pensionat will be open 11:00 - 16:00. Now you can order lunch (or locally produced ice cream!), and sit by the salmon leap and eat. (Photos from the guesthouse opening last weekend.)

Maria Raymondsdotter has a blog!

I love grey skies, blog

När mössen har öron stora som björklöv är det väl dags att beskära rosorna?

Preparing for this weekend and the small, annual art exhibition here in Magasinet, Mörtfors. The exhibition is a part of a bigger art event that takes place along the highway E 22 Saturday (May 5) to Sunday (May 6) 11.00 - 18.00. Will show a few prints from my book about Ingamaj. Come and say hello, if you are in the neighbourhood!

Also preparing for Mörtforsdagen (July 14). I am making the poster and the printed matter for an art lottery.

Ingamaj och Spill passar bra ihop, säger nätbokhandeln. Vilket fint sällskap, säger Ingamaj och jag:)

It is very much spring this time of year. A good spring, with plenty of nice things to look at, smell and eat.

Nature wall paper, Piet Hein Eek. Another natural one, Osborne & Little.

Down in the basement, in the midst of bandy equipment, garden furniture and dirty linen, the chickens are growing fast under the red light of the heat lamp. One week old tomorrow, constantly hungry and not at all easy to photograph (as they are in need of the warmth from the lamp, and their lamp and my camera aren't getting along very well...) For each week temperature inside the box will be a little bit cooler, and soon we can bring the chickens out (for at least a short and supervised time a day to begin with.) All of us are looking forward to that!

My book trip is over for this time. A lot of nice visits in schools and libraries, a lot of wonderful children's drawings... (Drawings above by children in Oskarshamn, Vimmerby and Kalmar. Thank you!)

Vimmerby is a good place if you like flea markets! They are just everywhere.

Vimmerby Antik och Bitte Antik är två bra ena. (Och jag kunde inte motstå tallrikarna, Lennart Hellsing-boken med det jättefina omslaget + den gula såssnipan.)