To infinity and BEYOND!

My stay in Sweden has been nothing short of incredible!  I have met amazing, diligent, beautiful, open minded, super sweet and caring people here. It took me three whole weeks to find someone who I couldn't get along with in some fashion. I snorkeled with jellyfish, took a "bath" in the harbor in the middle of the night when the clouds are still visible, jogged and swam at Kåsjön fresh water reserve, picked raspberries, boated to the granite islands, rock hopped, danced into the morning, enjoyed a fresh cup of Swedish coffee and mowed a GRAND lawn. I ate: messmör, semla, Swedish meatballs, herbs and vegetables from the garden, lingdon berry, a typical Swedish sandwich, home made kladdkaka and I plan to eat the very seasonally traditional crawfish. I have learned a few cute Swedish inside joke type words, have many stories and a collection of new MUSIC! 

Now I must continue on. School is about to start for my sidekick and "mom-ma" is already back to work. 

It looks like the next step is going to be NORWAY! How? Well, that's the beauty of the next chapter of my journey. I now have one MONTH to get 8 hours away to Stockholm.  The strategy is to plan to leave Gothenburg on Friday August 24th.  Maybe there or before I can find a ride north-ish with out hitch hiking. I have spent WAY too much money here so to buy a bus ride sounds a bit lame when I have so much time to get to the next place. (I have a feeling this is where I learn patience.) I do have a tent and a sleeping bag.  If need be; I will check into my portable tent motel in the forest and use my Swedish "right to roam".  This chapter will be a good one.  I'm sure I will learn a lot.  Part of this chapter will be cutting shampoo out of my routine. After a bit of research I don't think it's necessary.  No, my hair shouldn't be greasy or dirty after a few week adjustment period. This shall be a fun experiment for me! More about that to come later....

So, YES!.. back to the plan. I now have an adventure starting October 1st from Stockholm to Germany with a fellow CouchSurfer.  We're going to do.... something..... for a few days while we get from point A to B. Then, it just so happens that there's this small thing going on... maybe you've heard of it? Oktoberfest?  Nej, I didn't think so.  Well it's supposed to be a good time.  I figured since we'll be in the neighborhood we should check it out.  So that's the agenda so far.  No plans after that, yet.  This chapter is about "one day at a time".

I'm stoked to leave Gothenburg, only because it means I get to experience Norway and the "north".  I want to meet a REAL northern Swede that makes this noise by sucking in air to acknowledge the word "yes".   And yes, there are Eskimos there.  They do kiss with their noses and live in block houses! I CAN'T wait!  

Yeah....... so that's the "plan"! Rad! :) 

I have a new hobby: trying to edit videos when I have no clue how.  Those awesome clips of "living" will be done... some time.  Ah haha!

One more thought!: Please write me a comment with some feedback.  Maybe explain how much this info sucks! Thank you. 

Here are some photos in Gothenburg from my little Hero...   

The real Ikea meatballs!

A special holiday pastry called "Semla" - It was made especially for me!

Chowing down some Semla! - Yum yummers!

Home made kladdkaka. a delish choc cake! - Also my special treat! - Sorry it's so dark.

The "Lion Stairs" on a gorgeous summer night. 4:00 am? Notice it's still light out?

Lion Stairs during the day!

Clouds? Yes, this is cloud heaven!

Ahhh..... it was another gorgeous day! Sunbathing was a must!

My new Norwegian friend!

Crazy, cute Swedes - "brother" and "sister"

Yep, another friend! Sweet pillows too, eh?

Uh oh! That's my "up to no good" face.

So..... What you're saying is, "you've never ridden a frog"?

This is how they greet the sun every morning!

World culture fair

World culture festival

Do you see the guy painting? - This is pretty typical in mid-summer.

Each mailbox has the family name.  So cute! 

The REAL photos will be coming soon!

Sactown, Oregon and back down!

Things are moving right along. The plans to go see both my cousins and my brother are locked in! I'm headed to Sacramento for a few days then off to Oregon. I'm so excited to meet my gorgeous nieces, see my brother for the first time in about 14 years, meet his lovely lady, spend fourth of July by a river with my cousins and play with the rugrats before they're all grown up!

This independence day will be one I won't forget, as it is a celebration of my independence and a farewell celebration from my homeland.

It's been hard to try to divide my time and hang out with everyone one last time before my departure.  There are many people that I haven't had the chance to see yet. My time is becoming more and more limited. Last night I officially said "bye" to two of my closest friends who are flying to the midwest. The thought of not seeing them in a very long time saddens me. A few tears were shed. But!.. I have an awesome new hammock to relax in an think about how awesome they are on my trip! All I need to do now is get to a place with palm trees so it will be warm enough to use it!

 

Above one of my cousin's emu. He and his mom saved some eggs from being destroyed and rotated them every 6 or 8 hours in an incubator for weeks on end. They're such intriguing, wacky animals. 

I'm doing my best to wrap things up here in the states and be as prepared as possible. Saturday morning I bought a youth pass through STAtravel.com for $28. That's supposed to save me a ton of money on flights, hostels etc.. Hopefully it will come in handy.

Yesterday I finished house sitting and said bye to my temporary doggie. He's a smart dog and seemed pretty bummed that was I leaving.  We had become good friends.

I've been trying to narrow down my possessions. When I repacked all my stuff I went from backpack and two small suitcases down to a backpack and one small suitcase.  It's progress and I think this is a good way to take what I'll actually NEED and not everything I want to take. It will be weird only having ONE bag and nothing else. 

 

 These  are a couple maps to help describe how BIG this trip is going to be for me. Obviously, the places I've been are in pink. On the larger scale of things, I really HAVEN'T traveled! I can only imagine how much I will learn while I am gone and what a different perspective I will have.

  

Let the adventure begin!

The time has come! I've decided to take a backpacking trip around the world! I'll leave LA, either fly or take a train to Ohio, drive to NY then start my European journey in Sweden. I'll keep moving south through Europe, head to Italy then decide whether to go to Africa or the middle east, stop in Australia, Thailand and move through Asia. Depending on how my journey has gone I may stop home and say hi or I may just fly to the tip of south America and head north til I get back home to LA.

With that being said I've begun raising funds by selling everything I own one piece at a time and having an art and jewelry show/party 23rd. I will be launching kickstarter campaign to raise $20,000 in 30 days to help pay for the main expenses.  Anything left over from that will go towards volunteering around the world.

I'm looking forward to meeting new people around the world and sharing laughs. I can only begin to imagine how much of a different person I'll be when I get back. I will be posting updates to this blog about my location and my experiences.

The difference between being loved and FEELING love is huge...

Do the ones you most care about know and FEEL your love and well wishes for them?

Do you know and feel love and respect for YOURSELF?

Deep down are your intentions for people around you pure, loving and selfless?

Think about that for a few minutes...

Think about how they reflect on each other.

Think about how sharing true positive engery will vibrate through every aspect of your life.

Life seems so simple yet it can be so complex..

Spread some love, positive energy and good will today. You'll be doing YOURSELF a favor.

     "The woman who stole my heart" 

Jewelry Box - Traditional Fine Art Photograph by Kajsa Blix - Original, "Symmetry - Venice Beach, CA"

This 7.5" x 7.5" jewelry box has been hand crafted for you from raw materials.

It was finger painted by the artist with three coats of a special water based metallic paint, a clear top coat was applied for ensure durability while still allowing the natural wood grain to show. This image of the Venice Beach horizon was exposed with film in a specific manner to create this magical image. A photographic print was made, inserted and sealed into the box with a touch of glitter for a sweet touch of sparkle. Foam was then inserted into the inside of the box to cushion the real leather lining that was then hand cut and added. An elegant latch was then added to finish this fine creation.

View my website by clicking here.

On happiness...

Life is literally what you make of it. People need to make the choice to be happy. With or without the cards they were given. It's an outlook, not something you can touch with your fingers. It's finding one small thing after another that makes you appreciate waking up every morning. It's not taking the fact that the sun will rise the next day for granted or overlooking the beauty around you. It's figuring out how to be passionate about living!

'Tis the day... Rejoice and be glad.

(The image above is of a lady in Jalisco, Mexico doing laundary.  

She and her two beautiful daughters didn't have running water, 

floors, windows or a front door. Her transportation = donkey. 

She was the happiest and kindest lady. You could tell she 

appreciated her life and the people in it. )

Etsy.com!

new items are up on my etsy.

stop by and check them out! ♡

http://www.etsy.com/people/KajsaBlix

they are all made by yours truly.

Jalsico Dreamin'

new photos are up on my facebook page from

the amazing trip I took to puerto vallarta,

jalisco, mexico. enjoy, please.

nostalgic day

exactly one year ago on this day i stood in the garden of one of the most pompous kings in history. later, i climbed the eiffel tower stair by stair in the rain. it was there, in paris, on this evening one year ago when i received a text from the u.s. about mr. michael jackson's death.

i sit here today in remembrance of michael and the year that has passed. i confidentially say it has been a year of much progress and many necessary lessons. i would like to think that michael has had an amazing year too. i am grateful for being alive. i am honored to surrounded by many amazing people.

make sure you live life day by day and you MUST stop to smell the roses.

death valley excursion

I took a lonely hike to the very top of a

gargantuan mineral. It was a magical place, away

from any path, overlooking hundreds and

hundreds of miles of isolated desert where

thousands of souls rest. Only there I found desert

fields of miniature daisies the size of a dime

nestled in the ancient rock formations untouched

by human kind.

a mosaic canyon in a valley of many deaths

High speed winds roared ferociously up this

twisted canyon picking up added amounts of

black pebbles and propelling them with all its

might at next visible subject. Mother nature had

no sympathy, not even for us.

getting amped for palm springs photo festival!!

the palm springs photo festival is an intense week-long event for professional, emerging and serious advanced amateur photographers. we are dedicated to providing a rich program intended to inspire, educate and instill or reignite passion for the art and commerce of photography. attendees are encouraged to arrive on sunday, March 28 in order to enjoy our open portfolio review and opening reception.
connect 2010 offers the opportunity to meet top photographers, curators, art directors, editors, gallery directors, ad agency creatives, educators and industry leaders in the spectacular desert environment of palm springs, california for this year’s palm springs photo festival. show your portfolios, study with legendary photographers, attend cutting-edge seminars / symposiums and ENJOY evening projections by world famous image-makers. network with the master photographers, industry insiders and your contemporaries at several great evening parties and enjoy the warm palm springs weather. Most importantly, we promise you won’t have more FUN at any other photo event. Walk away with a renewed passion for the art of image making. our one-on-one tech consultations with our resident Tech Gurus cost only $30 per 20-minute session!

Bienvenido . 歓迎 . Välkommen . مرحبا . Bienvenue

in this blog i plan to discuss the struggles and successes that cross my path on the journey to artistic self realization. i will write frequently as long as i am inspired.

a thing or so about me:

my day to day name is nicole cooper. in the recent month my brain has brought to my attention that my birth name is too common. i have decided to attach my professional identity and talents to the name 'kajsa blix' pronounced kai-suh blicks. i chose this name because it is easily internet searachable and comes from the swedish quarter of my DNA that i identify with. kajsa is short for the name katherine who was known for being tortured but also known as a symbol of purity -and blix which means joy or cheer.

i currently reside in the city of los angeles where i find it quite impossible to find a true friend and a loving lifestyle. at the same time i take it as a challenge to change people's thought patterns as well as my own. i look to find the best in what i consider a lousy situation. i love being alive.

people know me as a photographer. i enjoy glorifying a city that forces upon me heart ache, longing and emptiness. i love to capture the most marvelous masterpiece and depict it as something worthless and unsightly as well as the opposite. hence, my work.

i am taking this opportunity to open my life up to the world and see what it has to throw my way in return.

thank you for reading.

be back soon.

- Kajsa