It’s been a little while since my last post, but I’m finally back with something new!
Over the past weeks, I’ve filmed so many little moments from my life at the start of summer here on the coast. I fell behind on editing, mostly because I lacked inspiration for a while after injuring my knee. But now I can look back and feel gratitude that this happened because it changed my relationship with my body in a positive way. As an artist it's our sacred vessel and I believe we must cherish it.
Now, instead of putting pressure on myself to keep filming new things, I decided to slow down and focus on editing the footage that I have. There’s so much from this summer that I would love to bring you along for.
So, here are my latest vlogs. A gentle glimpse into the beginning of my summer, filled with the kind of moments I treasure most and challenge me the most.
I hope you enjoy the little movies and that you have a beautiful weekend!
I’m so happy to be back with a new vlog. This one took time, not just to edit, but to feel ready to share. It’s from a season of deep change. A time of stillness and movement all at once, when life asked me to slow down, to listen, and to begin again.
These past months brought unexpected challenges, quiet inner shifts, and a knee injury that helped me see life differently. It was hard to edit this video when I was still in the learning, the changing and feeling it all. But now I'm so glad to have captured these quiet moments in nature with my dog where a lot of change happened.
In this video, I invite you into the quiet moments of spring on Sweden’s majestic west coast. Moments of healing, reflection, and the kind of beauty that holds you when words can’t.
This season felt like a chapter of becoming. Of letting go. Of being honest with my fears, and allowing what’s no longer mine to fall away. I hope this video brings you joy, peace, and inspiration.
I’m currently working on the next vlog, where I’ll share more of this journey. But for now, I hope this glimpse into the in-between brings you a sense of calm, connection, or simply a breath of fresh sea air.
Thank you for supporting my artist dream by watching my videos. Your comments mean the world to me. I love reading your words and connecting with you here 🥰
Lots of love and warm hugs from Sweden's beautiful west coast! 🌊✨
Last night, the peaceful fishing villages and surrounding coastal nature experienced an intense thunderstorm. At 9:30pm, lightning struck my old house, and the power went out. No lights. Not water. Just candlelight and a sunset bursting with fiery red colours. Like nature's fireworks, celebrating something sacred.
I truly believe if we are open and curious enough, nature becomes a mirror of what's unfolding within us. And the way we choose to see it reveals so much about the path ahead.
They say "the calm before the storm." But this thunderstorm felt ike a calm after the storm. A moment of clarity and renewal. A return to peace after intensity and turmoil. Like a deep exhale. A time of integration. A season of release and gentleness. It leaves me feeling more grounded, more connected, more filled with quiet wisdom.
These past months have been a journey through an inner storm. And the beauty is what the storms leave behind. Clearer air, a space for sunshine, freedom, and creativity.
Today the sun broke through the clouds, and the heat of the day burned away any energy that no longer belongs to me. I felt my fears and doubts melt away as I stepped into a new chapter of life. One rooted in inner strength and compassion.This storm felt both beautiful and symbolic.
I have now reached my second Summer here at my beautiful 1860 homestead. A new chapter is unfolding. Fireweed blooming in my garden, fiery pink skies, and coastal storms clearing the path forward to what is meant to be.
One of the things I love about living here is that I get the best of many worlds. Forests, farms, rocky cliffs, islands, picturesque fishing villages, magical fjords, and the wild North Sea.
This breathtaking place is just minutes from my home and is one of my favourite places to photograph and gather inspiration for my paintings.
The trail down to the fjord felt ancient, lined with stone hedges and wildflowers.
In these photos, I'm walking a forest trail high on a cliff that overlooks the sea. It's one of y favourite places to walk my dog, Ylva. There, she can run off leash and explore the forests small sandy beaches, play in the salt water, and eat horse and moose poop scattered along the trail!
We spent yesterday afternoon exploring, taking photos, and filming footage for my YouTube channel. I plan on editing this weekend since I have a busy week ahead with things that need doing around the house. After about three hours, Ylva was getting impatient, and it was time to head home for a belly full of food.
Ylva: "No more photos! Let's go home!"Homeward Bound
Do you believe that we can experience collective energy? This weekend I felt a sadness wash over me and I didn't know why. I'm mostly self aware enough to know what is triggering my sadness. But this weekend my body felt so heavy and in the afternoon I just laid on my bed. Something I rarely do. But the light was so beautiful and welcoming. There is something healing about my bedroom. No distractions, no books, no tv. Just my bed, my crystals and my candles.
Leiana came to join me and decided to sit on my chest. I felt she was giving my heart a warm hug of reassurance. She usually sits where I need the most attention. And when she settled, I looked into her eyes and I just started crying. With her help, my body received the release that it needed. I let the tears flow even though I had no reason for it. My mind took a back seat and I allowed my feelings to just flow with unconditional love. No judgement. No assessing. No rationalising. Just being.
Then on Monday, I learned some very sad news. A special soul left this Earth on Friday. And the tears came again. I never met this soul but I felt the loss so deeply because so many around the world grieved this beautiful soul. Then I asked myself with curiously, "could this be an emotional attunement with others around the world?" "A collective grief experience?"
As an empath, I feel deeply, and after living in nature for a year, I feel even more deeply. I have become more sensitive and I celebrate that. It's truly a gift. One I hope to give to this world through my art and transmuting this healing place into art and sharing it with many around the world. That is my dream.
I send love to all those who have and are experiencing grief right now. Whether it's the loss of someone special, health, a job. Grief comes from some many areas of life and in so many shapes and forms. We all grieve differently so be kind to your way. Sending you a big long warm comforting hug!
Started working on my mystical rock art collection
Last week I spent two days organising and tidying up my art studio. During the Winter I didn't have much inspiration to spend time in there. Mostly because it was too cold to work upstairs. Now that it's Summer, my art studio has become such an inviting place to be.
This evening I felt the courage to start painting again. I grieve all the years where my perfectionism mindset held me back from something that brings me joy and freedom. I remember this joy so well when I was a child.
I bought this bag for my art supplies when I was studying in London
Tonight, I gave my inner child the paint brush and asked her to show me the way. As an adult, I've become so results driven that I forgot how to simply enjoy the creative process. To just paint for the love of it, not for how it should or must look like.
It became almost like a sacred initiation ceremony. I lit a candle and set the intention to create without an end goal in mind. I told myself repeatedly, "it doesn't need to be perfect," "it doesn't need to be planned", "it doesn't need to look like anything." I just wanted my soul to express what it wanted in the moment. I wanted to create art not to sell, but to be. It was a gift to myself.
I allowed all my senses to awaken during the creative process. And that's when my inner child took over and I was in a flow state.
I painted with colours I never imagined I would choose. And it actually turned out to be a freeing and fun process.
Little Ylva always reminding me the power of play and presence
Beautiful June nights. Summer solstice is just around the corner...
She's growing up so fast. I wish I could pause her growth spurt and enjoy her lively puppy energy. Soon I won't be able to lift her. When I'm around her I feel like a pup myself. My inner child is having so much fun with her. So much play, youthful energy and presence in my life all of a sudden. I'm grateful for you, Ylva. Thank you for all that you give. My little nordic wolf. I love you and welcome home!
Since I picked up my new husky puppy in Skåne, life has been an adventure. Both for me and my cat, Leiana. Life is blessed. Life is good. Animals are healing in ways I cannot put into words.
Juggling hahaHorsies!Baby heronYlvaMoose trackHeidrunBig sky and open land
May has been a gentle unfolding. It’s felt like finally taking the deepest breath I didn’t even know I’d been holding. For so long, I was wrapped in external pressures and expectations. The kind that slowly steals your light. But with the arrival of Spring, I’ve felt something return. A familiar calm. A peace like an old friend.
Spring has been a time to brush off Winter’s cobwebs and breathe in the soft awakening of nature. Everything around me is coming alive and into the light. Trees, wild flowers, and animals. The deer wander through the flower fields again, unbothered, grazing under the big open sky. The land is alive. And I feel alive with it.
This week, I’ve spent my days Spring cleaning, both in my home and inside my mind. As I create more space in my outer world, my inner world softens and expands. I’ve returned to my art studio, a place I had drifted away from during the colder months. Back then, I was held by the quiet comfort of my 200 year old fireplace. Gently resting my body and restoring my hurt and tired soul.
Now that the air is warmer outside, I feel gently called back to my art studio. Not to chase results or strategise projects, but to simply create from joy. No agenda. No end goal. No performance. Just presence and being.
Slowly, my studio is becoming the sacred space I have wished to have for many years while I lived in tiny London apartments.
With inspiration and the open land outside my front door, I can now gather all this healing energy, bring it into my studio and transmute it into something sacred to give to others.
As I write this, it’s 11pm. The sky is a soft light blue. The animals are asleep, and the world feels so peaceful. I sit here wide awake, heart full of inspiration. I will try and go to bed now. Tomorrow is a new day. I can't wait!
Wherever you are, I hope your days ahead are touched by beauty, stillness, and the sweet joy of small things. Speak to you soon!
With all my love, Annika
(P.S. My animals, Ylva and Leiana send their love too)
Spring cleaning is still in full swing. There have been some warm Summer like days in May, followed by extreme drops in temperature so my Winter clothes bag has been in and out of the wardrobe. I'm ready for you, Summer!
Since I live in an old house, the roof is slanted in the bedroom which makes my getting ready experience very interesting. I have banged my head quite a few times on this "walk in wardrobe."
Leiana giving me encouragement and emotional support.
My art studio feels more inviting now that I moved my desk to face the beautiful coastal forest. Ancient pine trees as my guardians.
I created a little painting nook by blocking off this area with a shelf that now serves as camera gear organiser. I have also banged my head a few times on the slanted roof in my art studio so I made this area a supplies area more than a standing working area.
People must have been shorter back in the day. For those of you who are new to my blog, the house I bought a year ago is nearly 200 years old. I learned that the the upstairs was used as storage back in the day, so perhaps there is a good reason why the inner walls are slanted.
It feels so good to have each cubbie hole organised with my painting supplies. My brain seems to love compartmentalising items and spaces. It gives each space a clear intention which frees my mind up so much.
This area is a work in progress but my intention is to grab the art supplies I need for the painting I'm working on from the "nook" area. This will help me have a clearer work space for projects without the distraction of materials and colours. Working here also means I can look out to the beautiful coastal forest whenever I need inspiration and reassurance.
Every time I look out at the ancient pine trees I feel their gentle whisper, "We are here standing by you. Follow your dreams." It almost feels like the warm hug and reassurance you get from a Grandmother.
It's that kind of love I feel when I'm in this magical and mystical forest by the sea.
Stay inspired!
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