ALL THE PRETTY HORSES - II

I want a traditional red horse, but the unfinished horses from the original workshop might look better in our home. Should I honor tradition or aesthetics? It's a question I bet a lot of national costume wearers ask themselves when they look in the mirror as well...
IMAGE: NORRGAVEL

ALL THE PRETTY HORSES I

Sometimes a little bit of kitsch is exactly what you need to lift your spirits (and outfits) on a gray November morning. I stumbled upon the tiny Dalecarlian horses made into irreverent bijouteries by Messini Design. Such a perfect gift since it fits small packages that travel faster around the globe and arrive in time for Christmas. 

IMAGE: MESSINI DESIGN WEBSHOP, USED WITH PERMISSION 

MAKING A LIST. CHECKING IT TWICE.

First item checked off the list. 3 potted bulbs in house.
IMAGE:  MARTIN CAUCHON VIA FLICKR

PARING DOWN

As much as we love christmas and all its trappings, we also love cutting back, and keeping things simple. The parents in this family felt we could live without a lot of the trimmings - a.k.a. stress- and still enjoy the season to the fullest. Perhaps that should read in order to enjoy the eason to the fullest. So we took an inventory of what matters most to us during the holidays. In short: music, food and plants.

Our christmas essentials list:

Amaryllis
Christmas music in our home. 

Lucia and saphron buns. 

Advent lights. 

Treats and goodies. 

A christmas tree.  

A special meal with local traditional ingredients.  

Reading from the gospel of Luke.

Turns out our son's list is even shorter:
Decorations (he answered "pynt" with a smile)
Gifts.
Christmas tree.
Gingerbread cookies. 

TICK TOCK

It's difficult to find a great unisex gift. It's difficult to find a beauty of an alarm clock. Those are just two reasons for why this table clock named Station is nothing short of a gem. A Danish design classic by Arne Jacobsen and available from Rosendahl. Fits snugly in a suitcase or a package overseas.
IMAGE: ROSENDAHL WEBSHOP

MY CUP OF TEA

Popcorn is my preferred staff of life and herbal teas my irrigation of choice. When we moved to the North I did an inventory and discovered more than 40 different varieties in my cupboard. Since then I've only re-stocked on two favourites in an attempt to finish up those other 40. I'm now down to only six! If you have a (caffeine-free) herbal favourite I'd love to know. It's time to stock up again!

AMONGST SKIBUM WANNABES

I've seen the signs around the house. A husband peeking out at the mountains at all times of the day, random mentions of snow conditions around the country, ski magazines on bedstands, checking lines from skiers as we drive past mountains. Yesterday the soon 4-year old wouldn't wear anything but his woollongs and  "ski-shirt", (a Quiksilver t-shirt) and threw a fit in the sports store when he realized he wasn't getting new ski boots, nor a snowboard. Then he went home to play computer games. I'm beginning to fear I'll  have a teenage skibum in a few years.
IMAGE: SKISTAR HEMSEDAL

HEJ HOPP

I realize that this isn't a record that will appeal to our international readers, and perhaps not even my husband..., but to myself and those likewise inclined this is a moodlifter extraordinaire. Christmas album  "Santa has gone home" or Tomten har åkt hem (to Haparanda!) by Benny Anderssons orchestra is released today and can be sampled here or there. Don't miss Helen Sjöholms rendition of Nu tändas tusen juleljus.
IMAGE: MONOMUSIC

WIZARDRY?

What do you think? Will I be able to convince the son that this is the epitomy of cool on December 13th?

IMAGE: CLAS OHLSON 

SWEET AND SOUR

Winter season is citrus season. Imported oranges and mandarins, satsumas, clementins. I could never figure out which little citrus was which, since grocery stores weren't exactly bothered with accuracy on the subject. They'd pretty much use the same signs regardless of which kind of citrus they were selling that week. Let's sort things out. 

Mandarin orange

Yellow to orange peel, thin peel, plenty of seeds. Sweeter than clementine.

Mandarins are so full of seeds that they're practically never distributed for sale. Instead, "mandarin" has become a groupname for all kinds of small citrus fruits. 

Clementin  (Citrus clementina)
Slightly thicker peel, rarely any seeds. A breed between mandarin orange and bitter orange (pomerans).
The former bestseller during christmas.

Satsuma (Citrus unshiu)
Slightly thinner peel, at times slightly green peel even when ripe, rarely andy seeds. Originally from Japan. The new bestseller in Scandinavia.

Tangerine
A type of mandarin oranges, mainly grown in the United States.

(Or just do as my son and call them mini-oranges...)
IMAGE: THE GRAPHICS FAIRY

FOR BRAVE SEAMSTRESSES ONLY

Speaking of needlework, the most intricate embroidery in Norway is from the region of Hardanger. That's something to keep you busy on a rainy day. Girl in bunad from Hardanger ca 1900.

IMAGE: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, USA [PUBLIC DOMAIN]

SEW LITTLE TIME

My fingers are itching to get started on sewing projects for christmas, but I can't allow myself to take time to begin unless I know I have time to finish. Need to complete more mundane tasks first, mending knees on about 4 pairs of wool pants among them.  
IMAGE: BY GRACE CHRISTIE

A NEW STAR

These modern floor-to-ceiling windows of our aprtment isn't a good fit with the traditional Swedish adventsbåge. Contemplating instead a couple of a large white stars in the living room and so far this is my favourite: Jupiter from Watt & Weke.

IMAGE: DESIGNONLINE

TOTING YOUR OWN HORN

If you ever experienced what snow can do to gift wrap while you're fumbling with car keys, I need not say a word about the brilliance of (reusable) plastic. Decorative laminated totes are also brilliant when:

- you don't have a tree to gather a pile underneath

- you need to hide wrapped gifts behind the couches 

- you need to hide ugly wrapped gifts next to the tree

- you're delivering food and/or groceries as gifts

- you need to transport unwrapped gifts home from the celebration

- you're bringing "indoor shoes" for the whole family

Carl Larsson themed shopping bag (19 SEK) from Nationalmuseum.
IMAGE: NATIONALMUSEUM WEBSHOP

THE BEST TREETMENT?

We're trying to decide when to bring the tree indoors this year. Isn't the traditional span of 23rd of Dec until 13th of Jan too late to fit recent advent customs? Should it be up and decorated by Lucia? Or by the third Sunday in advent? Any input from our always informed readers?
IMAGE: UPPLANDSMUSEET

GIFT GUIDE

As much as I hate to admit it, Scandinavian Modern and Folklore aren't for everyone. Today's gift guide is for the traditionalists and romantics. Star Fluted Christmas Cake dish by Royal Copenhagen, Fabergé inspired ornaments from Brink, Linen towel Jaktmönstret from Ekelunds, Reproductions of Billmark's Stockholm motifs from the Stockholm City Museum, Gingerbread thins in decorated tin by Annas, Candle holder Lovisa Ulrika by Skultuna.
IMAGE: ROYAL COPENHAGEN; BRINK; EKELUNDS LINNEWÄVERI; STOCKHOLMS STADSMUSEUM; ANNAS PEPPARKAKOR; SKULTUNA

SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THESE

Bed linen Abisko from Åhléns is now available in more colours and solids! The solids in woven cotton chambray have a nicer quality and texture, but pillow cases are available as separates. Just add striped pillows to the monochrome ones, along with a woolen blanket, for a winter update. 

IMAGE: ÅHLENS

SLIPPERY SLOPES

You wouldn't believe the risk involved stepping outside the front door these days. Roads so icy you can literally skate on them. A thin layer of snow on top just to make things even worse. My bum showcases a big nice bruise as a souvenir, courtesy of Tromsö.
IMAGE: TROMSO NOVEMBER 2012, EVGENY SUBOROV

CHEWS WISELY

Homemade soft caramels and toffees are lovely and tasty and pretty and what not, but I just never muster up the energy to start a volatile sugary process that most likely will lead to failure at first attempt. My shortcut is Hemkola from Karamellpojkarna. Their retro-style packaging looks great heaped in bowls, as well as in cones on the tree.

IMAGES: PRESS IMAGE FROM CLOETTA

GREAT GRUB FROM SENJA

My first months this far north I couldn't wrap my head around what local people ate. It took some getting used to, even for a Swede, but now I'm the first in our family to suggest smoked cod or fish patties for dinner.

This book would've gotten me into the game a lot sooner. A well edited collection of the basic flavours and dishes of the region: lapskaus, seikaker, mølja. By now I've sampled most of the dishes, but this gem remains on my wish list. (I'll even forgive their GD's choice of fonts.) If you know anyone from the northern parts of Norway, this is the ultimate gift. Available here: Senjakokken.

 A big thank you to authors Roger Kristiansen and Eirik Nilssen for sharing an excerpt with us, it'll be up here as soon as I get it translated. Stay tuned.
PRESS IMAGES BY PHOTOGRAPHER EIRIK NILSSEN

THE HEARTS OF THE CHILDREN TO THE FATHERS

I don't have a grave to visit, since I have no relatives in the area. Instead, we'll light candles, dig out old photos, and tell our son about those we remember with love.
IMAGE: RÖKE KYRKA, PHOTO BY DAVID CASTOR

THANK YOU

Annas Jul mentioned Scandinavian Christmas among the five blogs that mean the most to her own blog. I'm flattered, of course. Thank you for the encouragement! 

(I tend to surf around according to mood and agenda, so I can't participate in the challenge and nominate my 5 top bloggers, simply because I don't have any set favourites. Sorry about that, Anna.)

IMAGE: PANDURO HOBBY

ALLHELGONA

Today is Allhelgonaafton in Sweden, the national holiday conveniently combining the celebration of All Saints' Day (a.k.a. All Hallows' Eve or Halloween), and All Souls' Day the first weekend in November.

It's been in vogue since the 8th century or so, meant to infuse the celtic tradition of descendant worship with a Christian purpose. Over centuries, its religious content has been modified back and forth in the flux of Catholic and Protestant influences. Sometime around the 1940's, Italian immigrants lit candles on graves on All Saints and Christmas, and the custom caught on again in Sweden. Most families celebrate with a visit to family graves or memorial sites, followed by fancy family dinners. This modest holiday is therefore the most lucrative for Swedish grocery stores, even surpassing Christmas in terms of net sales!
IMAGE: LILJEHOLMENS STEARINFABRIK, USED WITH PERMISSION

VOTES FOR WOMEN

Anna Rogstad was the first female member of the Norwegian parliament Stortinget, in 1911. A remarkable feat since votes for women were introduced 1913, two years later, in Norway. The right to vote was extended to women in Finland 1906, Denmark 1916 and Sweden 1921. Contrast that to Samoa in 1990, Lichtenstein 1994, Qatar 2000, Unites Arab Emirates 2006, and what's worse: some nations are not even on the list.

Don't ignore the importance of your vote, wherever you live in the world, and recognize that a price was paid for it by someone else. As the world awaits the US election, let's remember those that made possible a female voice in the ballots. If you don't know their names, spend some quality time with Google.
IMAGE: NATIONAL LIBRARY OF NORWAY

PLAYLIST FOR NOVEMBER

  

I know that christmas bloggers around the world have confessed to playing christmas music already. I don't care what they say, it's too soon. Try Lisa Nilsson's soothing, warm, vocals, Jan Johansson's melodic sensibility, and Georg Riedel's updated childhood nostalgia as backdrop for crisp days and chilly evenings. If you haven't heard these before, click on the covers to preview. It'll be a treat for your ears.

ME AND YOU DONALD, ME AND YOU

Architects and interior designers are in agreement: regardless of the size of a client's home or size of a project, the one thing everyone wants is more storage. I suppose that's the only thing Donald Trump and I have in common regarding real estate. This solution from GRANIT is more of a show-off than hide-away, but it looks good. 

IMAGE: GRANIT

WINTER'S OPENING ACT

While we're trodding on ice and plowing through snow already here in the very North as usual, the rest of the country is mesmerized (agonized?) by the early show of snow. This is a photo from Steinsöya in Romsdal.
 IMAGE BY EGIL. G O VIA FLICKR

LADY MARMALADE

One of my passions in life is... making jam and marmalades. It's a peculiar thing, I know, but I can't help it. This year I'm considering making a few jars as neighbour gifts with string, a simple tag and a sprig for embellishment. Pair with cheese and bread and merry christmas to all! Too bad I don't live even remotely close to an IKEA, where this perfectly sized and perfectly priced jar Korken is to be found. 

IMAGE: PRODUCT IMAGE IKEA.COM

DOWNSIZING

I have been wanting to try my hands at creating a Finnish himmeli this fall. So here I am, pacing around the apartment, trying to find a good spot for one. Can't say that it's going particularly well. I might have to settle for a bunch of small stars. Instructions from Slöjd i Väst HERE. 

IMAGE: SLÖJD I VÄST VIA 365SLÖJD.SE

WHITE AND BRIGHT

Speaking of glögg... Every year polls show that a great number of children in Scandinavia, and I bet it's the same all over the world, dread the holiday season. Since party season commences in November, consider this an early reminder. If your festivities include children, please adjust drinking plans accordingly.
IMAGE: PRESS IMAGE VIT JUL, PHOTOGRAPHER PERNILLA FÖRNES

PIXIE CUPS

Katarina Brieditis expertly combines modern and folklore influences, in this whimsical pattern for

Swedish porcelain producer Rörstrand. Rather charming. Because of the intense sweetness, spices, and strong alcohol, glögg servings are traditionally diminuitive. These cups hold 12 cl. 

IMAGE: PRESS IMAGE RÖRSTRAND

WINTER

Tromsö ca 1930.
IMAGE: PERSPEKTIVET MUSEUM

NEVER TOO LATE TO START ANEW?

Not one, but two macbooks committed suicide in our home, erasing all the hundreds of photos, images and interviews in store for this blog. I must admit it's quite a sordine on my enthusiasm.

After a few days on and off, our winter is finally ready for a serious commitment, blanketing the landscape and erasing the distiction between mountaintops and sky. I'll follow suit and fire up the engines again. By november, this blog should be back in full swing!

BUMP IN THE ROAD

Aaargh. Anyone who's been in my shoes will understand the frustration of complete hard disk melt down and the famous WSOD (white screen of death).

We'll be back soon, but not today. Sigh.

SAME SAME BUT DIFFERENT?

SHINE A LIGHT

Yesterday at the Nobel museum, one laureate communicated even to our three year old the concept of the field of work for which she was awarded. Mother Theresa was quoted saying: "Peace begins with a smile." 

Designed by jewish designer Josef Frank in 1938, this brass or silverplated candelabra was named the "knot of friendship" as a symbol for peace and friendship. Available at Svenskt Tenn.  

IMAGE: SVENSKT TENN

UNDERNEATH A CHESTNUT TREE

If there is one thing I miss in the North during fall, it is chestnut trees. Today, this old knuckly tree is where we're heading after a stroll through the old town in Stockholm and visiting the Nobel museum.
IMAGE: JAF-PHOTO VIA FLICKR

PSSST...

The Spanish edition of IKEA's christmas catalogue has leaked... read it here.
VIA VÅR VITA JUL

WHO WHOO THERE?

Not exactly a bird lover, I still adore the silhouettes from Wildlife Garden. Perhaps an owl would keep other guests away from our balcony. Scrubbing off purple bird poop stains during blueberry season is not a favourite activity of mine. A nice porch addition for those that are Halloweenishly inclined as well. 

IMAGE: WILDLIFE GARDEN WEBSHOP

HOMEWARD BOUND

After a nice visit in Stockholm, it's time to plan for a return to the fjords and the mountains. Two different, but immensely beautiful, places. J'ai deux amours.

MY BUNS, MY BUNS, MY LOVELY...

It's cinnamon bun day in Sweden. What a country.

ORDINARY EXTRAORDINARY

The shape and the production is the same today as it was 150 years ago, and the raw material is local clay from Gränsfors. Gränsfors Krukmakeri is a small family business now in the hands of its fourth generation, and one of two remaining potteries in Sweden. That in itself is remarkable.
IMAGE: NORRGAVEL:SE

DRAG QUEENS

Furniture on wheels. The unsung heroes of compact living. Since the industrial trend caught on, these helpers don't have to be tucked away in closets any longer. I'm trying to locate the measuring tape and see if one of them can be upgraded into art supply cart.  The nice carts and baskets shown here come from GRANIT, the Swedish storage solutions company.
IMAGES: PRODUCT IMAGES GRANIT 

NEW HANG UPS

That heavy handbag that sits on the floor by the entrance at the end of the day door needs a space of its own. Regular hooks give the handles an ugly shape, and if it sits on the floor it loses it's structure and shape. This might be the perfect solution. Originally intended for metal baskets from Korbo, but considering the size of my handbags the difference might only be one of opinion. 
IMAGE: LÄNNA MÖBLER WEBSHOP

I LOVE MY HOME TOWN

Stockholm City, this afternoon.
PHOTO BY AUGUST LINNMAN

KARL ANDERSSON & SÖNER

In 1898 cabinet maker Karl Andersson began making furniture for friends and family. Four generations later there is nothing nostalgic about their designs, but a genuine love for craftmanship and quality remains. If you're tired of the ubiquitous Aalto and Jacobsen, browse around Karl Andersson & Söner to more contemporary favourites. I am in love with their tables.
IMAGE: PRESS IMAGE KARL ANDERSSON & SÖNER; USED WITH PERMISSION

JAG VILL GÅ I BARNDOM

My first pair of shoes were from Kavat, the Swedish shoe company founded in 1945. They premiered their first collection for adults in 2011 and I am trying to hunt down a pair of Amanda this week.

Kavat in Swedish means bold, brave, or plucky, and I think I might need that in my stride as the fierce storms of fall are approaching the Norwegian coastline.  

IMAGE: KAVAT ONLINE SHOP

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN!

Fiftyseven days until the Polar night falls. We enjoy every single ray of sun mirrored in nature's bright colours.