TEXTILE GIRLS: Elang (left) and me on a cold day in Oslo. She brought me a very thoughtful gift the first time we met (see right). Photos: ALEXIA LUNDGREEN

Hello, everyone!

This is me with my friend Elang. She is an artist from Indonesia. And she came to Norway for love, just like me.

Elang – just like me – is a member of a Facebook-group called Handmade in Norway. We are a group of people who are into handmade creations and who love to share ideas and thoughts on being creative and living in Norway. Most of us are expats and creative entrepreneurs trying to carve out our own path and build our own businesses in the land of vikings.

Elang has told me she had checked out my pillows and colourful patterns, and that she liked them. I was very happy to hear that! I’m working hard to promote my creations and they really mean a lot to me, so to receive positive encouragements like that really makes my day.

A HUNTING SCENE: One of Elang’s vibrant and intricate works. Photo: ELANG

And you know what, I’m honoured – in all sincerity – to return the favour. Elang makes beautiful batik art. I really recommend you to take a look at some of her creations. I’ve included some of her pictures here in this blog post, and I hope to one day see her atelier where she works.

For those of you who don’t really know what batik is, I can tell you it is an ancient craft of decorating textile using wax and dye. And Elang does something quite special with it. She incorporates traditional Indonesian motives and old stories from her culture into her art.

It’s fascinating!

IN PROGRESS: Elang working on The Hunting Scene (left). Wax on drawing sketch, so-called nyanting (middle). Elang with finished work (right) Photos: ELANG

Elang showed me some of her textiles. Wow! So beautiful! And just for a few moments it all took me back to my own trip to Bali (Indonesia) around 18 years ago.

I’ll tell you more about that in a later blog post (part two of this one) and how meeting Elang now has inspired me to create a very special, one of a kind, pillow out of the batik textile I brought home from that trip all those years ago.

So, make sure you read that blog post, too!

I feel so comfortable talking with Elang. When I met her, I liked her right away. It’s like we had an instant connection. You know, when you meet somebody for the first time and you feel right away at ease with that person. I felt that with her. She is very friendly and forthcoming, a smiling and positive person that gives you extra energy.

I am amazed to see how talented she is. Her work is vibrant, intricate and full of beautiful patterns. With the cold Oslo-day outside the windows, she took me on a small tour through several of Indonesia’s countless textile designs and techniques. Batik is just one of many. I hope to visit her one day – and then later I can tell you guys more about how it’s done. Maybe you would like to try it yourselves!

So, with some colourful, Indonesian inspired energy, I’m ready for another creative week. I hope and wish you all a great one, too!

And remember, part two is coming soon!

Xoxo, Alexia

HANDMADE: Three small gifts Elang gave me. I really appreciate them and my new friend’s kind gesture. Photo: ALEXIA LUNDGREEN