Each month, we’ll introduce you to a member of our Design Team so you can get to know them better. This month you get to meet Anna Bjorklund from Sweden.

Anna’s been a member of Cocoa Daisy since January 0f 2007! That’s 6 years! I asked Anna to tell us more about herself, I’ve worked with her for a year and a half and reading her response just makes me want to hug her. She’s wonderful! So here’s more about Anna:

I was born in Paris. Both my parents are Swedish, but my dad worked in Paris for a few years and I lived there until I was about two years old. I have always had a special relation to France because of this, even if I didn’t return until 1998. I went back there to study French for a few months, and I was sort of hoping that I had the French language buried in my unconscious and that it would all come alive when I got there. Unfortunately that was not the case… =) but I still loved spending those months there.

After returning to Sweden with my parents when I was a kid, we moved around a few times and both of my parents have moved since I left home and moved out, so I feel kind of “rootless” in that sense that I have no childhood home, or childhood town to return to.

I met Johan when we were both studying Biotechnology at the University and we’ve been a couple since 1996. We have four kids together. Linus is going to be 10 in April, Alva will be 7 and Tuva will be 2, both in May. We also got a son named Hugo in 2005, but unfortunately he didn’t get to stay with us, but we lost him during birth. We carry him forever in our hearts.

I found Cocoa Daisy early on, when I heard about the first kit that Ali Edwards put together and I’ve been a subscriber since January 2007. I have always loooooved the kits and it was a dream come true when I was asked to join the team in 2008.

I love the Cocoa Daisy atmosphere. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming. I have always loved the kits because they are so gorgeous and easy to use. I love that there are always several manufacturers represented, but still everything matches and works so well together. I also love that the kits works for so many different styles of scrapping!

When I’m not scrapping or hanging out with my crazy family I work as a Patent Engineer at the Swedish Patent and Registration Office. I think coming home to play with paper and paint is the perfect way to relax after a day at work.

And I asked her to answer our typical designer questions, so you could get more insight:

1. What is your most creative time?
In the morning, after breakfast and with lots of black coffee as my company. Unfortunately I rarely get to scrap during that time of the day, but mostly scrap in the evenings when the kids are sleeping.

2. What is on your top 5 playlist right now?

I’ve been listening a lot to Ken Stringfellow lately, as well as to Miss Li and Amanda Jenssen.

3. What’s next on your scrappy life list?

I hope to do more art journaling soon and to include more mixed media techniques in my scrapbooking too.

4. What is your favorite retreat?

Hiding in my scraproom…

5. If your life was a movie, what actress would play you?

Hm… I don’t know… Audrey Tautou…?

6. Who are the important people in your life?

Johan and our kids Linus, Alva and Tuva.

7. What are you known for on your pages?

I use lots of machine stitching and love nests of thread. My layouts are often simple, even the messy ones.

8. What’s your favorite inspiration site?

I find that I spend less time surfing for inspiration these days, because I have less time I guess, but Pinterest is fab and absolutely the place to go when instant inspiration is needed.

9. What food would describe your style?

Ooo, it has to be a Swedish smörgåsbord with lots of different dishes, since I love so many different things and find it difficult sticking to one style only.

10. What is “dressed up” for you?

A cute, but not too fancy, dress.  I most often wear jeans and quite comfy clothes.

And we’ll end with a few more of Anna’s awesome designs, she’s even given us a some translations to help us non Swedish speakers! I love that about Anna, she’s so helpful!

Anna, we are so happy you are here at Cocoa Daisy, we love you!