Tuesday, June 5, 2012

A Telented Freeend. Bork, Bork, Bork!

My friend Siri, although born and raised in Sweden, is nothing like the Muppets' Swedish Chef.  Well, except when she speaks Swedish. Then, I am struck by how well the Muppets' creators captured the sounds of the Swedish language.

Some years back, I found a web app that "dialectizes" English into "Swedish Chef." With that discovery, I was filled with joy (well, wicked glee) to be able to write to Siri in 'her native dialect.' For example, if I wanted to say, "I miss you terribly and wish you lived right here in Spain," I could dialectize that to Swedish Chef and say:

"I meess yoouu terreebly und feesh
yoouu leeffed reeght here-a in Speeee"

Fortunately, I can tease Siri about it (as I love to do) because her English is better than the English of just about any American I know.

It wasn't always that way. When Siri was a college student newly arrived in the United States, her English was already apparently excellent, but if she didn't know a term or expression she would simply do a literal translation from Swedish. It makes sense. Except when she wanted to vacuum the apartment and asked her new roommate where she kept the "dust sucker." (And imagine the sound of that with just the very slightest Swedish lilt.)

Siri and I met when I was with the Publications Office at the University of California, San Diego, and she had her own graphic design business. She did a lot of work for our office and she and I became good friends, a friendship that only grew stronger after San Geraldo and I left San Diego. It's hard to believe she and I have been friends for nearly 20 years.

Siri is a brilliant artist and designer,whatever the medium — paint, mosaic, collage, sculpture. A few years back, she fell in love with the art of beading and began to make jewelry. The more skilled she became, the more unusual became the jewelry. She decided to change her business focus from graphic design to jewelry design — since nothing made her happier than spending her days creating one-of-a-kind pieces. I haven't written this post to plug Siri's business, Sirious Design, although I suppose that's what I'm doing. I've written this post to share some beautiful creations, to make your day a little more beautiful, and to make you "ooh and aah"! Or to make you — as the Swedish Chef would say according to the Dialectizer — "ouh und eeh!"

A ONE-OF-A-KIND CUFF. SIRI SEES THESE PIECES AS PAINTINGS.

IN COMBINATION WITH HER OWN METAL WORK (YEP, SHE DOES THAT, TOO).

SIRI'S VERSION OF A LEI.

ANOTHER ONE-OF-A-KIND CUFF.

I COMPLAINED TO SIRI THAT SHE HAD NO DESIGNS FOR MEN AND SHE CAME UP WITH CHAINMAILLE.
I'VE GOT THE ABOVE IN SILVER AND ALSO IN COPPER (BOTH WITH BLACK RUBBER).  VERY MACHO.
I THINK I MAY NEED TO GO "OVER THE RAINBOW" AS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT TO MYSELF.

THE DOWAGER DUCHESS WEARS A HEART LIKE THIS ONE.

As the Swedish Chef would say, "Bork, bork, bork!"

22 comments:

  1. Hello Mitch:
    What an exceedingly talented and creative person Siri is. Her designs really are very attractive, contemporary and innovative and she must be enormous fun to know and to be with. Such a pity that she does not live in Spain [to be read in native dialect].

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    1. J&L:
      I really am in awe of Siri's talent... and she is also tremendous fun to know and be with. (And I also always used to able to count on her for Swedish chocolate.)

      Delete
  2. Oh the talent Siri has! Love the Lei and the 'macho' bracelet...I can see the copper one looking very fine! Incredible work.
    We have a friend who used to imitate the Swedish Chef when we hung around together.....she would love this! In fact Ron just FB'd it to her!

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    1. Jim:
      I love wearing my "Siri bracelets" ("pulseras" here in Spain)!

      And I love the Swedish Chef. I can watch those videos all day. A great picker-upper. Maybe that's why I was so attracted to Siri... Well, maybe it was more than that!

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  3. I love...bork bork bork...seriously you had me at b.....! Siri's work is absolutely beautiful...and you should be plugging her, well promoting her at least!Now aren't you the lucky duck to have a piece of hers. Thanks for this, I always love the artist bent posts...that would be all of them pretty much! Ron, this time!

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    1. Ron:
      And what's hilarious is that whenever Siri has tried to teach me some expression in Swedish, I somehow hear it ending with BORK BORK BORK. Thanks for forgiving what seems like a plug. I was simply browsing her online store just for fun and got carried away yet again by what I saw. That dust sucker really inspires me.

      Delete
  4. I've two sisters with birthdays coming up. Thanks for the link. She really makes one-of-a-kind pieces.

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    1. Peter:
      Two LUCKY sisters! I knew you'd enjoy seeing her work!

      Delete
  5. Mitch! WOW, I'm (almost) speechless...I'm the lucky one to have your undying friendship, love, and incredible support...AND I miss you and San Geraldo terribly...
    I didn't grow up with the Swedish chef, but he makes me crack up every single time I watch him. All I have to do is start a youtube clip, and I'm led astray for days...

    Well, I'm honored, humbled and very grateful
    In conclusion bork, bork, bork

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    1. Hola Swedebead! The Swedish Chef was my favorite character from The Muppet Show. I used my brother as my excuse to watch it every week. Puss and kramm... bork, bork, bork!

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  6. She is very talented indeed - it would be difficult to make a choice, they are all so beautiful. The golden one with the metalwork flows wonderfully but I like the colours in the next one..the cuffs are simply amazing...George could find this is an expensive post.

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    1. Elaine:
      Among Siri's gifts is her sense of color. You feel like you could fall into the colors. And you should just thank George in advance; any of these would look perfect in your English country garden!

      Delete
  7. Hello! I am an old school friend of Siri's who lived in LA for 24 years and just moved to Gelida - where I have a B&B- just outside Barcelona about a year ago (parallel lives, Mitch?) It was great to see Siri's beautiful designs here,so lovingly presented, on the National Day of Sweden, no less! But I have to ask, although born and raised in Sweden, what's with the 'Bork, bork, bork' ? What does that even mean : ) ? Did I miss something in my Sesame Street education....

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    1. Helena, you certainly missed something in you Sesame Str education. Just replay the video above and you'll get your answer. Just play any Swedish Chef vid.

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    2. Hi Helena:
      Siri had told me about your move and B&B. One of these days, maybe we can get up there! As for "bork, bork, bork," per Peter's explanation, the Swedish Chef ended every one of his little songs with those so-called words. I have no idea why, but they sure sound Swedish when he sings them.

      Delete
  8. I just visited her site and she has gorgeous pieces. I can't wait to decorate my Barbie(Claire) in things like this when she gets older.
    m.

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    1. Mark:
      I can't even imagine what Siri will be inspired to create as time goes on. Lucky Claire!

      Delete
  9. I commented on Facebook but forgot to read your post. She is one talented gal!

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    1. Ms. Sparrow:
      She really is gifted. While we still lived in San Diego, Siri took (just for fun) a mask-making class. They did plaster casts of their own faces and then made masks that were supposed to express who they were. The work ended up being so good that there was a private showing in a gallery downtown. Siri made two and they were both brilliant. I wish I had pictures of those!

      Delete
  10. Wow … her creations are stunning! I'm not a jewelry person but I love the colors and textures that her pieces have. What a lovely friendship you have!

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    1. Jenners:
      I learned from her graphic design that Siri has this amazing gift with color. The jewelry takes that even further and all I want to do is hold the pieces. I would love wall art made like one of those cuffs (but could never afford it)!

      Delete
  11. I love seing Siri's jewelry and her story on your blog. As Siri's sister, I am fortunate enough to own many of her gorgeous pieces myself. When I wear them I get so many compliments and usually the person wants to buy their own piece. Siri's jewelry is indeed gorgeous and unique. Every piece is handcrafted and lovingly made with the utmost artistry and style. When you put one of her designs on you just know you have to own it. I am so excited and proud of Siri.

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