{farewell, denmark}

Our two weeks in Denmark have come to an end, but what a lovely time it was. Sand, sea, and rain. Had I really forgotten the Danish weather so completely -- we had packed entirely too many pairs of shorts, and not one umbrella! 

When the sun was out, we went to the beach, which was just up the road. Tilly loved examining the sea shells, turning them over in her hands, and having a little nibble on one occasionally. She could run up and down the shoreline for hours, following other children and trying to take their buckets, or simply enjoying her freedom!

Before you start to think we were in a tropical resort, let me show you our feet. Wrapped up in hand-knitted Danish socks whenever possible. What a lovely feeling to slip into these after having your toes in the rather chilly North Sea.

We stayed out in our cousins' lovely summerhouse, which was so special. Beautifully Scandinavian, all white and wood, with a garden full of flowers and fruit. Fresh blackberries for breakfast, apples for dessert. Tilly didn't even bother picking the fruit, but ate it straight off the bushes!

And before I forget, here's a flodeboller. Chocolate shells, wafer bottoms, creamy marshmallow centres. Still just as delicious as I remember.

Of course, I've still got so much more to tell you about. We went to the most amazing flea market, attended a wicker festival, walked above Aarhus in a giant rainbow, took a trip to Legoland, and made note of all the Danish designer things that we plan to make ourselves at home. Is there a more inspiring place than Denmark for design? 

I'll have all that for you once I've come to terms with the 1036 photos I took in the space of twelve days. Yikes! Hope you've had a lovely August, and thanks so much for all the comments. I loved having our guests, and am so glad you enjoyed their posts too.

{for the love of burlap -- with m'lynn}

Here we are again with the last in our series of guest posts. Today, we're welcoming M'Lynn of The Creative Cup, who also writes a beautiful and thoughtful blog here. She has put together a

burlap wreath, made all the more perfect by the red flowers! Inspired? Yes, me too...

Burlap is my go to medium for most all of my home decor projects. I'm head-over-heels in love with this fabric because it is so inexpensive, it has wonderful texture & colors, and it helps fill my home with a rustic-country flare that suites our decor and agriculture lifestyle. My latest burlap project just happened to have a little touch of red to fit with Astrid's love of the color. Inspired by the wonderful wreaths I found and pinned on my Pinterest board HERE, I made this scrappy burlap (with red) wreath to welcome guests into our home.


I used exactly one yard of burlap, a heavy duty wire wreath frame, and fabric scraps left over from previous projects. No sewing was required, just knotting, tying, pinning, gluing, and twisting.
 
May this burlap (with red) wreath be a pleasant way of welcoming our friends and family into our burlap-filled home.

Thanks, M'Lynn. A lovely choice of colours, and what a brilliant way to use burlap! Thanks, again, to all our guest bloggers -- I'm on my way to England tomorrow, where we'll have Internet access, and we'll have some photos of Denmark up to show you very soon!

{emergency purse kit tutorial -- by terri}

I'm excited to continue this little series of guest posts with you -- creative minds from near and far, who have focused their ideas on red, just for us. Today, we're welcoming Terri of The Mommy Shop, 

who has put together a tutorial for a stylish and useful sewing project that's perfect to make as a gift for just about anyone!

Hello all, my name is Terri and I am a huge fan of Astrid's style and creativity over here at Red Red Completely Red. I was thrilled when she asked me if I would be willing to do a guest post for her while they are off traveling. I absolutely love sewing, crafting and using my spare time to come up with new creations for me, my kids and my etsy shop.  However, as a stay-at-home mom of a 2 year old and 1 year old, projects that are expensive,  non-practical, and take more time than what I can finish during the 30 minute window my kids are both asleep at the same time are not at the top of my list.  So today I am so excited to share with you a tutorial for an inexpensive, very practical and time-efficient project I created.  I call it the emergency purse kit!



Supplies:

• 2 pieces of fabric 5" by 9"
• 1 piece of fabric for the pocket 3 1/2" by 9"
• thread
• a hair band
• sewing machine 
• scissors

Skill Level: Beginner.  I am not always the best at explaining things so I like to include a lot of pictures.  I hope that you find this to be both simple and fun!

First you want to take your 3 1/2" by 9" piece of fabric and hem the top under half an inch so it looks nice and finished off.



Next, lay the 3" by 9" piece on top of one of your 5" by 9" pieces.  You will want to make the bottom edge of both fabrics line up as shown below.



Once you have them lined up, you will sew straight lines down the front of the fabric to create pockets.  This is where you have some flexibility.  I sewed six pockets because I had specific things in mind that I wanted my kit to hold.  If you know you have more stuff you may want to use a little bit longer piece of fabric and sew more pockets.  Or, if you know you have an item that will need a bigger pocket, you could sew one large pocket and four small ones, etc. I decided on six pockets, each about one-and-a-half inches apart.



At the top of each pocket, I did a quick back stitch to make sure that the thread will not unravel.  Another little trick to save time and thread is to not cut your thread between each line.  Simply make sure your needle is up, raise the sewing foot and scoot your fabric over the the next line.  I usually go down one line, up the next, then back down again and so forth. Once you are finished, you can go back and cut the thread between each pocket.





Once you have all your pockets stitched, you are half way done.
Next, you will lay the second 5" by8" piece on top of the first 5" by 8" piece with the colored sides of the fabric touching one another.


Now sew down the bottom, around one side and across the top leaving one end open.



Once you have done that, you will turn the fabric inside out.  It may be helpful to use something like a crotchet hook or pen to push the corners all the way out.



At this point you should still have one open end.



You will want to turn the open end in and pin the rubber band inside the pocket it forms.



Now you are on your last step!



Simply sew around the entire rectangle.





And you are done!  These are so easy and affordable to make.  I think these would make great gifts for a bride, bridesmaids, girls going to prom, stocking stuffers for all the ladies in your family etc.  Feel free to add your own suggestions on things to fill it with too!  Mine carries my essentials: mascara, lipgloss, mini lotion, a stick of gum, a band aid, bobby pins, a rubber band and a travel kit of Advil!
If you want to make one of these for your kids you can make the pockets about an inch apart and use it for a crayon roll-up, too.

Thanks, Terri! It looks great! Looks like my family know what to expect in their stockings now...

{dala horse hot pad tutorial -- by the pickled herring}

I'm excited to share this little series of guest posts with you -- creative minds from near and far, who have focused their ideas on red, just for us. Today, we're welcoming Kathryn of The Pickled Herring, who has a tutorial for you on making your own Dala Horse hot pad...

Hello!  I was tickled red (ha) when Astrid asked me to do a guest post over here at Red Red Completely Red.  I love Astrid’s simple yet unique style and have loved reading her blog ever since I discovered it just over a year ago.  So thank you, Astrid, for letting me be part of your blog today!

Red. I, too, love red things, perhaps not quite as much as Astrid (or my husband, for that matter), but I love the boldness it can bring to a simple project.  Today I want to share how to do an inverted or reverse appliqué using red as the “popping” color.  The following will be a tutorial for a reverse appliquéd pot holder.

Gather your supplies:

Three 8 ½ inch x 8 ½ inch fabric squares: 2 the same color, 1 red (use a durable fabric)

One 8 ½ inch x 8 ½ inch square of quilting batting 

Scissors – a small, sharp pair would be best

Sewing machine/thread/needle

First things first, pick a simple shape (or a tricky one, if you feel daring).  Make a paper cutout of this shape.  I did a Swedish Dala Horse as my shape since I love all things Scandinavian and am currently doing a Dala Craftalong.

Next, cut out your 3 squares of fabric and 1 square of batting.  I used 2 black pieces of fabric for my main pieces and 1 square of red felt for the popping fabric.

Pin your popping fabric square behind one of your main squares.  Pin your cut-out shape onto the front of these two squares.  I pinned my cutout in the center, but you can change it up and put it on the lower corner or wherever you like.

You can either trace your image directly onto your fabric with a washable fabric marker or sew around the actual cutout.  I chose to sew around the cutout.  Do so very slowly and carefully.  Note: You should be sewing through 2 layers: the popping fabric and main fabric layers.  

Next, very, very, very carefully cut only the top layer out so that your other fabric peaks through.  I pull the popping layer back while I do this.  This is where the small, sharp scissors come in handy.

Be careful not to get too close to the edge.  You don’t want to cut the outline you sewed.

The hard part is over – yay! Now, place the layer of quilting batting behind your appliquéd squares.  Place your other main square on top, right sides together.  So your 4 squares should be in this order, from bottom to top, quilting batting, peaking fabric, main fabric with appliqué, main fabric.  Pin all sides together and sew around the edges, leaving a 2-inch gap in the center.

Trim the edges and trim the corners for an easier time turning it right-side out.  Turn right-side out through the 2-inch gap you left.  Fold the edges from the gap inward and pin.

Sew along the edges, about ¼ of an inch from the edge, starting with the pinned gap.

I like zig zag stitches so I added a zig zag border.

Now, bake or cook something hot so you can use your brand new reverse appliquéd hot pad!

Thanks again, Astrid, for letting me be here today!  I hope you all enjoyed the short tutorial!

Thank you, Kathryn! A beautiful way to carry your hot pots. I'm sure we'll all be by the check out your Dala Horse Craft-along. And, if you're looking for more Dala inspiration, check out my D is for Dala pinboard!

{a spot of red in the room -- with dutch.british.love}

I'm excited to share this little series of guest posts with you -- creative minds from near and far, who have focused their ideas on red, just for us. Today, we're welcoming Jadyn of Dutch.British.Love, who has put together a collection of gorgeous interiors for your viewing pleasure, each featuring red elements. Old road signs and Union Jacks? I'm in love...

- - - - - - - - - -

Much like Astrid, I believe a bit of red brings things to life. While red isn't the main ingredient in the rooms here, imagine them without the red pieces in them and you'll see how red makes these rooms,
even if added in small doses.

{JMarx Atelier}

How lovely and vibrant are this fiery red desk and filing cabinet? Looks like such an inspiring and energizing place to work.

{Ellen O'Neill, via House Beautiful} 

This room struck me as very 'Astrid'. A white room with whimsical red chairs and a vintage British road sign? Yes please!

{VTWonen} 

I love the softer red on the painting and chairs here as well, giving this room a lively but slightly softer look than the one above.

{Canadian House&Home September 2009 issue, photography Michael Graydon} 

Just a bit of red on the pillow brings this room to life, don't you think?

{Image from MiCasa} 

Even red in small doses adds vibrancy, this room wouldn't be the same without it. 

Thanks for having me at RedRed, Astrid!

Thanks to Jadyn for the inspiration. We'll be modeling our kitchen after that gorgeous House Beautiful one, for sure! Watch out, neighbourhood road signs...

{how to take a one-year-old across the world in six easy steps}

We are by no means experts on traveling with children. But, having made the trip to England last Christmas with a five-month-old Tilly, to Oklahoma this year with an eleven-month-old Tilly, and now preparing to jet off again to Denmark with fourteen-month-old Tilly, we've learnt a couple of things about keeping babies happy on planes. And, as some of you have asked how we survive the flights, here are a few things that have worked for us.

One. Choose your travel times wisely. It is much easier to spend ten hours with a sleeping one-year-old than a waking, shaking, trouble-making one-year-old. Travel at night, when you can. Bring bedding.

Note: Don't count on any sleep yourself. Channel your caring-for-a-newborn self.

Further note: As you will most likely be beneath the sleeping one-year-old, do not count on any toilet breaks. Drink sparingly.

Further further note: If your baby is generally a light sleeper, think about bringing infant earplugs, or improvising some sort of ear covering so that the incessant announcements from the cockpit don't keep waking your little one up. I'm planning to stick a semi-chunky hat over Tilly's little ears. And whack any air stewardess who comes by with duty free after Tilly nods off.



Two. Pack as lightly as possible. How lightly? Well, a good rule of thumb is that you can physically move all your bags, plus your baby, all in one go. Common sense? Maybe, but picture this very real scenario: the park-and-ride bus drops you off in the middle of the road outside Houston airport. You, husband and baby have three large bags, three small bags, a car seat and a push-chair. Can you make it out of the street, with your stuff, before a passing truck flattens you? (Hint: If the answer is no, maybe you don't need ALL those changes of clothes!)



Three. Bring entertainment. Not wanting to spring for the portable DVD player that some people recommended, we tried hiding a few of Tilly's favourite things a week before we left. We brought the hidden books and toys with us on the plane. She loved them already, plus she missed them, so we got a good few more minutes of interest from each one.

Note: Keep weight in mind. No matter how much your baby loves that set of fifty wooden blocks, you will not want to carry them around for twelve hours. Compilation books, with more than one story inside, are a good choice, as are toys that can be played with in more than one way. I packed Tilly's toys into a case that Velcros shut, creating the extra game of take-things-out-and-put-them-back-in.



Four. Bring food. As many Gerber Puffs as you can carry. Other favourites of ours for baby-friendly snacks are blueberries, cooked macaroni with melted cheese, cheese cubes, cranberries, raisins, and cereal. Beware of bananas -- it's oh-so-easy to squish one against your passport!

Five. Dressing your baby in layers allows for high or broken air-conditioning on the flight (both of which we've experienced already with Tilly!) Also, something with easy access down there makes using the tiny changing tables slightly easier. If you're flying overnight, pajamas might remind your baby to go to sleep.

Six. A secret Weapon. Okay, you don't normally let your little one watch TV/have sugar/chew on your phone, but bring something that you don't normally allow, just in case of a major meltdown. A friend recommended lollipops -- this is our secret weapon this trip. We've also heard that stickers work well, paired with plain paper. Of course, any new toy might calm a crying child through novelty alone!



And, a few other things that might make travel easier:

• packing pajamas near the top of the suitcase, for easy access the first night
• a push-chair that locks when folded, for easy storage on the plane
• a large bag to stash a car-seat in, to keep it a little safer on route
• imagination -- anything can be entertaining, from plastic cups to pictures in the in-flight magazines

If all else fails, repeat my little mantra to yourself: 

It's only ____ hours. I'll never see these people again. It's only ____ hours. I'll never see these people again....

Have you got any tips to share? We'd love to hear them! Just get them in quickly -- we're off to the airport in a few hours!

{creative ways to record your travels}

We haven't even left yet, and already I can't resist thinking about how we'll record our trip to Denmark. Of course, we're planning to build our postcard shelves (which, due to warped planks, will now be when we get back), so we'll be sure to pick up a nice Danish postkort to display. But, loving maps as much as we do, here are a few other ideas for remembering trips:

This felt pillow has been embroidered with travel routes, each trip in a different colour. Just don't try to fly from Los Angeles to Japan -- you'll have to go the long way round! (Paola of Atelier Pompadour, via Apartment Therapy)

Feeling stitchy, but don't want to bother with all that felt? What about these simple postcards, onto which you sew your journey. Perfect for our upcoming postcard wall! (Uncommon Goods)

Add a little scent to a postcard collection with these lavendar-filled postcard sachets. Probably not worth the risk of getting them through customs, but buy an extra stamp while you're away, and sew these up at home. (Victoria)

Frame photos, using maps as matting. Choosing a map of the destination where the photo was taken will make it extra special. (Martha Stewart)

And, if you love your maps so much you can't bear to cut them, frame the whole thing in an embroidery hoop! (Brigitte.de)

These pillows bring maps down from the wall and turn them from crinkly to cuddly. We are playing with the idea of having a map theme in our guest room, so these would be fun on the bed. (My Bearded Pigeon, via Re-nest)

And as the guest room is also serving as Justin's office at the moment, this map-covered stag would be right at home. Could we make it a moose, though, please? (Steph Goralnik, on Flickr)

Okay, perhaps I'm getting a little carried away here, but if we're going map-crazy, why not throw in this  map chandelier, too? With a $5 IKEA light-kit, I'm sure this would DIY in no time. (Umbu)

Do you have any travel traditions? Any special souvenirs you try to find while you're away? It looks like we'll have to save space in our suitcase to bring a map or two home with us!