My answers to your questions

Can you recommend any podcasts?
Unfortunately not, I only ever listened to half an episode so far. Time to start if I manage to focus (my day dreaming takes over). Any suggestions?

Have you ever visited Finland?
Yes, the northern parts (Tornio, Rovaniemi). Would love to visit Helsinki!

From one freelancer to another: What do you do when you are in a low-inspiration/low-energy phase in your freelance life? When everything feels hard and overwhelming? Any strategies that usually work for you? (Assuming you get bad periods once in a while.)
Yes, those periods come and go. I have practiced a lot not to panic, because inspiration isn't something you can plan. It's frustrating, but something I just have to accept. Taking a walk helps to clear my head, even though I find myself using those walks as procrastination a bit too often. Blogging is a great way to get shit done as well, to collect moments and things in a blog post and see that I actually did something that made me feel good.

I told you a few times before that I really love your photos and that you have this unique "Sandra" style. I would love to know how you pass certain of your motifs. Like ... do you stop and take several pictures to choose the best or do you just take one and move on? A strange question ... but I'm honestly curious! (:
I think it's a great question. I usually see things I like and just point and shoot. 1-2 pictures of the same motif and then I move on.

What brings you joy? What is one thing you like at your age now that you did not like as a younger person? What will you like when you are older that you may not like now?
So many things bring me joy, for example books, walking around the city the whole day with my camera (longing so much for one of those days), partying with my friends, waking up with my head on Johan's chest, food, listening to Miracle Cure Progressive Mix (Blank & Jones feat. Bernard Sumner) on repeat, going to Sweden to see my family etc etc.

As a younger person I didn't drink alcohol (started when I was about 25), I saw so many people around me acting like idiots and thought I would act like an idiot, too. Now I enjoy alcohol and most of the time I act OK ;) I hope I will like my flaws more when I'm older. It really helps to just accept them and live with them instead of against them. Think I'm doing pretty well so far.

Where do you see yourself in 5 and 10 years from now? Secondly, do you spend the majority of your work time on personal projects or client projects for your income?
The first question scares me and is something I am working on to figure out, because during my time with depression my life kind of stopped for a while and I didn't see a future at all. Personal projects take up most of my time, but I'm working more and more with clients again and it's a lot of fun! Will release a project on my Instagram this month that I did recently and it includes a giveaway, wohooo!

When did your interest in crochet started and how did you came with the concept for the wrist worms? Love them to pieces!!!
I was about 5 years old if I remember correctly. My mum was crocheting a lot when I was a kid and I was watching her and one day when she was busy taking care of my baby sister, I grabbed a crochet hook and some yarn and just started by trying to do the same movements with as she did. It worked :)

So glad you like the Wrist Worms, here is the story about them:
The story of the brand Wrist Worms started in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2008 when my husband asked me if I could knit him a pair of fingerless gloves. He loves wearing layered outfits and couldn't find what he wanted in the shops. Instead of knitting I chose to try making them with crochet technique and loved the structure it gave to the wrist warmers. I posted a picture of him wearing them on my blog and that same day I received several emails from people wanting to buy them.

So, I started to do some research. The pattern of the stitches is really simple so first I wanted to see if someone else already was doing it, but I couldn't find anyone. The idea for the name Wrist Worms popped up in my head and after that same research I was ready to release the Wrist Worms and ever since then they have been a big part of my daily work and life.

A list about me

Long time ago since I posted a list!
I love to fill in lists like this, used to have books for my friends to fill in as a kid. My friend Maria and I were weekly making lists for each other to fill in until we were in our mid teens. This list is translated from Swedish (I saw it on some Swedish blogs when I got the idea to get a Sweden fix recently), hopefully I did a good job.





DO YOU?

Have beer in the fridge: No, my fridge is broken since a few weeks. There is a kiosk in my building, so luckily I have easy access to cold beer. Though I don't go there for beer right now, decided it was time to have a break from this fluffy, yummy beverage for a while.

Have a pet: No.

Have a favourite sweet: Strawberries and raspberries, I don't really have a sweet tooth and prefer savory stuff. A few times a year I go to the Swedish pick & mix candy store to get my fix.

Wear powder: No.

Have any plans for the future: To make plans for the future, currently I'm lost because I stopped making plans.

Have any "best" grades from school: Typing, Writing short stories + poetry & German language.

Have an addiction: Cheese & Carmex.

Have fika today: Black coffee!

Wear nail polish: Usually on my toe nails in the Summer. Right now I don't and my feet look a bit naked. I usually go for a dark tone, like very dark grey.

Have a friend who lives in another country: I have friends in many different countries, I live in "another country" myself since 6.5 years.





WHO?

Do you despise: Despise is very harsh, though there is a person who made me doubt myself and people around me in a very horrible way. Wouldn't say I despise this person, I feel more pity.

Share most memories with: After almost 13 years together, it has to be Johan. And my baby sister.

Do you long most for: My family in Sweden.

Annoys you: People who are in touch with others only to ask for favours have been annoying me a little bit lately, sometimes a How are you? is also a good way to be in touch.

Do you cuddle with: Johan's long hair.

Cooks: I've been cooking most of the meals lately. Making simple salads and pasta dishes to enjoy on the balcony. On Friday Johan will make a sandwich cake, yaaay! Swedish midsummer feast.

Does the dishes: Most of the time I do, I have started to find it pretty stimulating, omg, who would've thought.





WHICH?

Magazine to you read: Berliner Zeitung every day, oh well it's a newspaper and I read it online.

Bus do you take the most: If I don't walk, I usually go by train, subway and tram, so I'd say it's the bus to the airport (ha ha, maximum once a year).

Day is your birthday: December 15.

Season do you prefer: The in-between seasons, you know when Spring turns to Summer and Summer turns to Fall and so on.

Town did you grow up in: Luleå, the largest town in northern Sweden. Although it's small, it really made me a city person.





WHAT?

Are you doing right now: Thinking of which pictures to post with this list.

Is good about you: I'm thoughtful, emphatic, can't lie and I always try my best to do as I have promised.

Is bad about you: Sometimes the way between my brain and my mouth is too short. Being face blind puts me in awkward situations pretty often. Also I'm bad at getting things done if I have something planned later in the day.

Do you want to work with: Illustrate more and do more fun collaborations on the blog and on Instagram with companies I like and trust.

Is most fun at the moment: Hanging out on my balcony with friends during hot Summer nights, laughing out loud together about important and silly things.

Are you wearing: A grandmother nightgown from Humana & black leggings from H&M. It's hot in Berlin today.

Kind of shoes do you own: I have 5 pairs that I wear on a regular basis: A pair of curling boots for Winter, two pairs of very comfy sandals (black & silver), a pair of sneakers and a pair of lovely Dr Martens that I found unworn for €5 thirteen years ago and started wearing last year as I had no patience before to break them in.

Is your shoe size: UK 5.5.

Are you reading: "Horrific Sufferings of the Mind-Reading Monster Hercules Barefoot: His Wonderful Love and His Terrible Hatred" by Carl-Johan Vallgren.

Are you going to do now: After I have posted this, I'm gonna take a shower and take a walk before closing myself in my bubble again.

Hope you enjoyed! Feel free to post your own version of this list on your blog if you want :)