PICKERS CHOOSERS

    

New year's eve dinner is drawing closer. I'm still trying to find the right addition to my clear, sand and gray Kivis (1,3,4). I'm pretty confident about adding pomerans (2), but feel strangely drawn to the purple one (5) as well. All suggestions or opinions welcome, or I might spend the whole weekend watching that belans video over and over again.
IMAGE: IITTALA WEBSHOP

HEARTFELT

Purnorsk is a souvenir and designshop with Norwegian contemporary design. I fell in love with these silicone trivets/potholders shaped as Scandinavian waffles. A fun gift. Easy to mail as well. Made by Bark Bazar and available in 10 colours.
IMAGE: PUR NORSK

OLD SCHOOL

It's been more than a decade since we celebrated the arrival of the new millennium. Unbelievable. Today I penciled in the first notes and appointments for 2013 in my new day planner. Yup, I'm old school like that. The planning has yet not been digitilized in this household. 

IMAGE: PRESS IMAGE BOOKBINDERS DESIGN

RADIO: VINTER

Today is the first of eight programs called Vinter, a winter version of the popular radioformat Sommar, where an invited guest fills an hour of music and monologue. The programs are available online for 30 days and are then archived as podcasts for free downloads. (In Swedish only) 

GOD JUL

IMAGE: TROMSÖ BY TERJE LEIN-MATHISEN VIA FLICKR

OH GOLDEN BAUM

Inspired by the paper silhouettes of Hans Christian Andersen, Nordahl Andersen has produced a collection of Christmas decorations. I adore the trees available in 3 sizes.
IMAGE: ILUMS BOLIGHUS

GOOD MORNING!

An early christmas gift from my parents was this wake up light from Philips and it's revolutionized my winter mornings. Instead of twitching abruptly at the alarm signal, I am gently awakened by an (artificial) sunrise. Anyone who dislikes the darkness of winter mornings wants this gadget for christmas. 

IMAGE: PRESS IMAGE PHILIPS 

GUEST POSTING

On Tuesday I had the honour of participating in Oaxaborn's series about Scandinavian Christmas Interiors. Read the Q & A here.

Thank you Gina for your kind words and encouragement!

A FAMILY TREET

Our christmas tree has been in the house about a week now. I know, I know, it was too soon, but it has been wonderful to turn on its lights these dark and chilly midwinter mornings.
IMAGE: PHOTOGRAPHER CHRISTIAN HANSEN, PERSPEKTIVET MUSEUM, TROMS

SAY CHEESE!

Swedish hard cheeses are exported even to Guide Michelin restaurants in France, and is one of the few foods I truly miss. What I don't miss is the sticky plastic bags and cyran wraps every morning as you prepare breakfast. Someone at Sagaform must have been equally fed up and voilá: a simple design in oak and acrylic. Thank you.
IMAGE: SAGAFORM VIA TOREBRINGS

EVERY HOME A COTTAGE

If you enjoy Scandinavian casual country style you'll love Norwegian retail company Home & Cottage. For wonderful early advent and winter inspiration have a peek at their latest catalogue.
IMAGE: HOME&COTTAGE

IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER

Brøstadbotn last week.
IMAGE: A.NILSSEN PHOTOGRAPHY 

MAYBE MAYA

Turns out that although the linen closet spills over with table linens (and although a gray one is already on the wishlist) I feel a strong desire to acquire a red table cloth for christmas. I blame this beauty of beauties, Maya from Himla, in 100% linen.
IMAGE: LÄNNA MÖBLER

OH LITTLE TOWN OF GINGERBREAD

This is a great alternative for those who feel that the making of a gingerbread house requires too much parental supervision. Bake cookies and let the kiddies loose with bags of frosting, candy and streusel. Lay flat on a big platter or make a little cottage by attaching to gingerbread bases with melted sugar after kids have gone to bed. Pepparkaksformar City from ICA MAXI. 

IMAGE: PRODUCT IMAGE ICA MAXI WEB SHOP

WET YOUR APP-ETITE

Two great (free) apps to guide you through the flavours of Swedish christmas foods (in Swedish):

Create your Swedish christmas menu at Scan.

A wonderful looking cookbook and audio guide at Milda (though I'm a paper and pen kinda gal myself so I ordered a free printed copy here).

IMAGE: PRESS IMAGES HKSCAN

SERIOUS OFF-SEASON POTENTIAL

This is the best non-designer/high street brand adventsstake this year. You need to see beyond this boring image by imagining some moss, pinecones, florals or tiny toadstools. Would look equally great in a country setting and an urban home.The beauty of this one is that it can be filled with oasis and used during the rest of the year as centerpiece, something few christmas items can pull off...

Half price off in the webshop right now.  

IMAGE: PRESS IMAGE HEMTEX

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

The gingerbread dough is in the fridge, a big pile of candy chosen by the 4 year old in the cupboard.  His participation would certainly be enhanced if he didn't have to wrestle with his mom's rolling pin every time he bakes. This one is from Leilas general store. 

IMAGE: LEILAS GENERAL STORE, WEBSHOP

VÄLKOMMEN DU GODA MED LJUSET HIT

Any concert with Helen Sjöholm and Benny Andersson is a wouldn't-miss-it-for-the-world to me, and nothing beats a Lucia processional in December. THIS IS WHERE you watch it and THIS is what you eat while watching (the rap performance is a good bathroom break... no further comments).
IMAGE: LUCIA AT DANDERYDS GYMNASIUM, PHOTOS BY NIKLAS PARK

GOOD THINKING

I can count the number of times I've shopped at Hemtex in my lifetime on one hand. But then they go and do something like this, and make me want to run to their stores. A limited edition collaboration with Design House Stockholm resulting in designer items on the cheap. Vase Bubblan is available in 2 sizes and 4 nuances.
IMAGE: PRESS IMAGE HEMTEX

BEST GIFT SHOP!

Source mass produced items for the home, give them random names and sell cheap in droves. You'd think it was a sibling to IKEA, but stylewise Oscar & Clothilde is far from it. Their items lack the genuine history of antiques, but the buyers have a knack for finding the "next to best" at good prices. Free shipping (Sweden)  in their webshop. Well worth a browsing, particularly if you're looking for a gift with personality to it.
Shown here: Bowl Plommon,  Box Amalienborg, Cup and saucer Desaix.
IMAGE: PRODUCT IMAGES OSCAR & CLOTHILDE

WATCH THE CEREMONIES

Watch the live webcasts HERE or HERE (schedule on the same page) or on SVT HERE.
IMAGE:PRESS IMAGE NOBELSTIFTELSEN, BY FRIDA WESTHOLM

FEEL LIKE BANQUETTING MUCH?

Since 1901, the Nobel Prizes have been presented to Laureates at ceremonies on the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death, the 10th of December. The official webpage of the Nobel foundation is wonderfully comprehensive, with everything from educational games to science documentaries to live webcasts of the awards.

Most commissions for the banquet,  from Swedish suppliers, are available commercially as well. A bit on the pricey side for every day use, but great souvenirs for the design oriented. Beats a plastic viking helmet.

Table linen Nobel from Klässbols by Ingrid Dessau
Tableware Nobel from Rörstrand by Karin Björkqvist
Silverware Nobel from Gense by Gunnar Cyrén
Stemware Nobel from Orrefors by Gunnar Cyrén

Other ways to sample the event: Visit the Nobel Museum. Take a virtual tour of the City Hall. Enjoy the Nobel menu of previous anno at The City hall restaurant, Stadshuskällaren. Your cheat sheet to the event from Sweden.se
IMAGE: GENSE.SE

CAN'T BE NORMAL

I think it's ridiculous to be homesick, and pathetic to be nostalgic. Let's live in the here and now and dig where we stand! Unless you come from Stockholm, of course. Then we understand the agony of separation.  I was there just two months ago and yet I'm feeling tugs at my heart when I see images of it. Is there a diagnosis for people like me? Can this be cured?
IMAGE: MORRI_GAN VIA FLICKR 

INDISKA

Indiska has done it again. When it comes to christmas collections in the budget category, they reign supreme in 2012. I visited their newly opened store in our town yesterday and saw no less than 6 themes (Vibrant, Embellished, Romantic, Ethnic, Scandinavian, Folklore) with plenty of decorative and useful items that worked well in all of those 5 settings. A new webshop that ships to the EU and Norway opened this year and is well worth a visit. INDIA+SWEDEN=LOVE
IMAGE: INDISKA'S FACEBOOKPAGE

DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW

We have a darling little sleigh that's now on its third generation of delighted children, but if it were to give up its breath this Danish version would be a fancy replacement. Available from Inreda.com.
IMAGE: INREDA.COM

MOM VS. LIGHTNING MCQUEEN

Here's a little confession: we hang christmas stockings on the 25th. There's nothing remotely Scandinavian about it, but since both my husband and I have had family members "over there" who sent stockings when we were kids it's been part of our respective families' traditions. There's something about treats in small packages that are really enticing!

The knitted versions from our childhood are looking dated to say the least, and these from Svenskt Tenn look fabulous. To an adult Scandi-blogger that is. I doubt that my son will be pleased to find one of these on Christmas Day. This eyesore is more likely to spell success in our home. Sigh.

IMAGE: SVENSKT TENN

GETTING HUNGRY

Speaking of whales, I really like the taste of whale, but sadly my husband isn't as much of an enthusiast. I'm already longing for next year's barbecue season. Good thing there's plenty of whale in the area this season. If you're coming for a visit you'll know what's on the menu!
IMAGE: MAGNUS GIÄVER 1888, PERSPEKTIVET MUSEUM

HEAVY FEET

When I think of wooden clogs I always think of my aunt. During the late eighties she walked around in stonewashed jean skirts and clogs on most days I came to visit. They seemed like slippers to her. 

When you live in a climate where flip flops aren't an option, clogs are the quickest alternative for when you just need to get to the mailbox, trash can, or the basement. These are from Norrgavel and have tickled my fancy, though I'm not ready to embrace the bleached denim skirts yet. 

IMAGE: PRESS IMAGE NORRGAVEL 

AALTO GETS THE CHRISTMAS TREATMENT

ADVENTSBARN

The best thing about approaching the 2nd Sunday in advent and Lucia is being able to unwrap these darlings. Adventsbarn by Lisa Larson.
IMAGE: PRODUCT IMAGES, TOREBRINGS

OH TANNENBAUM!

This is brilliant!  A fake christmas tree perfectly quirky and charming for the kid's room. No prickly needles on bare feet and knees and a tiny price that won't leave you feeling guilty when you stash it carelessly in the back of the garage when the season is over. If IKEA wasn't 621 kilometers away, it'd be in our home tomorrow!
IMAGE: IKEA.SE

FROSTBITTEN

I have a small collection of rather monochromatic Kivi candle holders, but want to add something to the mix. Considering the frosted ones in the larger size to break up the uniformity. If you see a frowning young lady that seem to be playing tetris or some other line up game with Kivis in an Iittala store you know who it is. It's important to find the right belans! 

IMAGE: IITTALA

3xASTRID

 

If you 're not familiar with Sweden's most proliferous children's author Astrid Lindgren, you may know her world famous Pippi Longstocking. These are 3 personal favourites from the lithany of her production that suit early advent: Jul i stallet, Titta, Madicken, det snöar!, Kajsa Kavat hjälper mormor.
IMAGES: PRESS IMAGES, RABÉN & SJÖGREN; USED WITH PERMISSION

HUMPETY HUMP

Last weekend we went to a nearby "beach" to look at the humpbacks who are feeding in the area. Apparently killer whales had visited earlier in the week as well. The strong wind had us freezing to pieces despite good gear, but in better conditions there are quite a few kayaks in the area attempting close encounters. Looking at the sprays from the whales under the pale moon (no daylight this time of year) I was reminded of how far north we do live.
IMAGE: HAUKUR SIGURDSSON VIA FLICKR

ASHES TO ASHES

Trying to sooth the mother of all colds by sipping nyponsoppa (rosehip soup) and looking at table linens. This one goes straight to the top of my wishlist since I have the most beautiful runners and napkins from the same collection, New Linen look by Himla. The colour is called Ashes. Poetic indeed. 

IMAGE: FRAPP.SE

DING DONG MERRILY ON HIGH

This is my favourite doorbell. Just thought I'd let you know, in case you were wondering.
Made by SIBES. (The best version of the carol is found here.)
IMAGE: SIBES WEBSHOP

MAKE NOTE OF IT

Bookbinder's Design is a granted monochromatic favourite, but their seasonal designs haven't always tickled my palate. This year it's a homerun with a pattern that successfully combine modern and folklore, and fits a mansion as well as a humble cottage. It's a bonus that the colour scheme suits not only the winter season but well beyond. 

IMAGE: PRESS IMAGES BOOKBINDER'S DESIGN

PS.

If you're trying to come up with an act for the holiday party, or family holiday reunion, check out the kitchen mob flash orchestrated by IKEA last week in Stockholm.

JULSTJÄRNA

If I was sewing a gift for my mother-in-law this year, this would be on it. An original from 1674.
The pattern, not the mother-in-law, of course!
IMAGE: KORSSTYGNSBOLAGET; USED WITH PERMISSION