Christmas and vintage textiles

Photo: Nordiska Style

Merry Christmas everyone!

I love all the beautiful vintage Christmas textiles that can be found in the second hand stores in Sweden in november/december! I have a small collection, but the one above, hand embroidered in the 50's is one of my favorite. Another favorite is this gorgeous wallhanging, also hand embroidered and dated 1949:

 Photo: Nordiska Style

Kila Design: A new life for broken vintage nordic porcelain

Photo: Kila Design

Scandinavian designers produced the most amazing porcelain between the 50's and the 70's. Some of the designs, like Berså (Stig Lindberg), Mon Amie (Marianne Westman) or Zebra (Eugene Trost) are still sought after today, and you have to be ready to spend quite a lot a money for a complete set (well, if you can find it!). But porcelain is fragile, you drop it on the floor or throw it against the wall during a fight, and it's gone... (no, don't do that! At least not with mid-century porcelain.)

Anyway, Cecilia Claesson, the founder of Kila Design has found an original way to recycle damaged porcelain: she uses the pieces to create jewelry. And all rings, necklaces, bracelets, brooches or cufflinks have parts of pure silver. I really love the idea of wearing a piece of what used to be an eggcup somewhere in the 50's!  Nostalgic and poetic! And a lovely gift for a loved one (or yourself)!

Photo: Precis en sån    (Krokus, Arabia)

Photo: Kila Design   (Daisy, Figgjo Flint)

Photo:  Precis en sån

Photo: Precis en sån

 

Photo: Kila Design

I love many different designs, but Berså (Stig Lindberg) will always be my favorite. Many years ago, I fell in love with the famous stylized green leaf. I didn't know much about scandinavian design back then, and I started doing some research on the internet, reading books, going the the second hand stores (in Sweden)... And I discovered amazing designs and designers.  Since then, I'm hooked! 

Today's finds at the second-hand store

Photo: Nordiska Style

I went to the second-hand store today and found this really cool earth globe shaped advertising moneybox from the 60's. It was made for the Skandinaviska Bank (a swedish bank) but was made in Finland. As I love everything related to the space age, I had to take it with me!

I also found this great book:

It's from the early 70's and it's filled with pictures of interiors, furniture, accessories from scandinavian designers. The text is in english, french and german, and it's the no.3, couldn't find the rest of the collection, unfortunately. Here are some pictures from the book, I'm so happy with it!

Photos: Nordiska Style

Retro Magazine on a Sunday afternoon

Photo: Nordiska Style

Isn't it great when on Friday, just before a cold, snowy weekend, you find in your mail box the new issue of your favorite magazines? And when, like Hus & Hem Retro magazine, it's published only 4 times a year, it's even more exciting! If you like collecting vintage scandinavian items, no matter if it's classic pieces of furniture, teak sideboards, mid-century glass, textiles or clothes, you'll find interesting information about designers and prices, tons of amazing vintage pictures and the chance to visit beautiful homes filled with scandinavian treasures!

It's in swedish, which is not my first language, but I can read it. I think that even if I couldn't read it, I would still buy it as the pictures are a fantastic source of inspiration!

Happy Sunday everyone!

Photo: Nordiska Style

The world of John Bauer: Trolls, witches and fairies

A few years ago, I had the chance to visit the John Bauer Museum in Jönköping. I felt like a child again, captivated by his illustrations of an enchanted swedish forest filled with fantastic creatures!  Bauer was born in 1882 in Jönköping and became the favorite fairytale artist in Sweden when he illustrated between 1907 an 1915 "Bland tomtar och troll" (Among elves and trolls), a book published annually at Christmas. Trolls meeting tiny boys and girls, witches, fairies, dragons, princesses and knights... a walk in the forest feels different once you're familiar with Bauer's world!

In 1918, Bauer and his family decided to move to Stockholm to start a new life and try to save a troubled marriage. They decided to travel by boat instead of train after a well-publicized train accident, but the canal boat sank and John Bauer died at only 36 with his wife and their 3 year old son.

His legacy lives on through his beautiful, magical illustrations, and a century later, he still fascinates!

Photo: Wikipedia

Photo: Wikipedia

Photo: Artsy Craftsy

Photo: Artsy Craftsy

Photo: Artsy Craftsy

Photo: Artsy Craftsy

Photo: via Nordic Thoughts

Photo: via Monsterbrains

Photo: via Monsterbrains

Newly restored vicarage near Malmö, Sweden

This fantastic newly restored vicarage near Malmö is on sale. I love it!!! Now, I need to earn a much, much higher income and do lots of positive vizualisation to even think about buying such an amazing house, but at the moment, it just feels nice to look at the pictures while drinking a glass of red wine. Ah, the simple pleasures of life!
When I fantasize about my dream house, there's always a long tree alley leading to the house. A huge backyard and lots of natural light. This house may not be perfect, but it meets those three requirements (even if I know that real estate pictures are often overexposed so the rooms looks brighter...).

Here are some pictures, enjoy!

Images: Erik Olsson via Hopea

Jonna Fransson's "From seed to flower" prints

Jonna Fransson, a Stockholm-based artist / illustrator created these two vintage inspired prints, "From Seed to Flower". These gorgeous prints are a wonderful contemporary re-interpretation of vintage botanical school charts (I adore old teaching charts!), and I'd be seriously tempted to buy both of them if I had any space left on my walls! With the name of the seeds and flowers both in swedish and english, these detailed prints, with their soft colors are not only beautiful, but also informative. Isn't it a great combination?
Get them here!

Photos: Jonna Fransson

Saarinen in Marrakech

Photo: Nordiska Style

Spotted today in the Gueliz neighborhood in Marrakech: a café with Eero Saarinen's Tulip chairs and tables! 

In Marrakech

Photo: Nordiska Style

I'll be back posting soon, right now, I'm enjoying the Marrakech sun, tajines, couscous, and I'm spending too much time and money in the souks, but I'm having a great time! As you can see, Sweden in never too far: my beloved Swedish Hasbeens wrist bag is still following me everywhere!

Malmö, Sweden: A walk on the beach

Photo: Nordiska Style

I love going to the beach in the fall and winter. It's quiet, the light is beautiful, and it's always a great opportunity to practice my photography skills!

More pictures of my great afternoon at the beach (Malmö)!

Photo: Nordiska Style

This dalmatian looked so happy to be there, his enthusiasm was contagious!

Photo: Nordiska Style

Photo: Nordiska Style

No need to say that I kept my boots on!

Photo: Nordiska Style

Can you tell I'm a Hitchcock fan?

Photo: Nordiska Style

Photo: Nordiska Style

Photo: Nordiska Style

Photo: Nordiska Style