Well hello there. How are things?All is well here at Pasta & Patchwork, although it’s a bit hectic. As life is wont to be for a globetrotting, writing, crochet-obsessed, sleep-deprived Mama (aka Eline) to a wonderfully feisty boy (aka the Bean) and wife to a searching researcher (aka Mr P&P). I could do with more sleep, really, but. But then I'd miss out on all the adventure. It started in 2011, when Mr P&P and I gave up our well-paid jobs in leafy suburban England and relocated to Milan. With nothing but a couple of suitcases, hopes for good weather, and several years of hard graft in academia ahead. 3 years turned into 4.5, the Bean joined us along the way. Although Milan began to feel like home, at some point we realised we were not yet done with our wanderlust. In August 2015 moved again, to the other side of Europe: southern Sweden. The wanderlust is what makes us "us", along with so many other things: |
We’re well-educated but good employment opportunities are hard to come by, so we have to be self-sufficient. Which means that if you're looking for Mama, you'll probably find her chipping away at some hair-brained DIY or upcycling idea. Or embroiled in a new crochet design on the sofa, surrounded by yarn and stone-cold cups of tea.
Our parents' generation waited until they had the house and the jobs and the savings account and we, well, didn’t. We do, however, have flexibility. I can choose to work a little less, and build more towers for my son to knock down.
We are a melting pot family: Brazilian, Belgian, British and Italian all at the same time. What my son lacks in expensive toys, he will gain in multicultural experience (I hope).
We live on pasta (mostly).
We try to be environmentally responsible and not buy too many new, disposable things (but I completely admit to thinking that cheap IKEA furniture is the shiznit when the damn shoes keep falling off the damn ladder and you just NEED a better solution quickly. Oh and if you'd like us to review some snazzy, eco-friendly products then you can go right ahead and contact me).
We worry about landfill and opted to wash our baby’s nappies instead.
We've lived in a 60m2 flat for the past 4.5 years, which means every corner of every room is stuffed to the brim and I often fall asleep with a tiny elbow digging into my ear. But there is actually nothing better than always having my loves nearby (plus I never I have to go far for more yarn, either).
Our parents' generation waited until they had the house and the jobs and the savings account and we, well, didn’t. We do, however, have flexibility. I can choose to work a little less, and build more towers for my son to knock down.
We are a melting pot family: Brazilian, Belgian, British and Italian all at the same time. What my son lacks in expensive toys, he will gain in multicultural experience (I hope).
We live on pasta (mostly).
We try to be environmentally responsible and not buy too many new, disposable things (but I completely admit to thinking that cheap IKEA furniture is the shiznit when the damn shoes keep falling off the damn ladder and you just NEED a better solution quickly. Oh and if you'd like us to review some snazzy, eco-friendly products then you can go right ahead and contact me).
We worry about landfill and opted to wash our baby’s nappies instead.
We've lived in a 60m2 flat for the past 4.5 years, which means every corner of every room is stuffed to the brim and I often fall asleep with a tiny elbow digging into my ear. But there is actually nothing better than always having my loves nearby (plus I never I have to go far for more yarn, either).