1914-2014

The school in Gibostad, Senja, celebrates its 100 year anniversary this year. A part of me wishes school buildings still looked like this rather than the modern factory lookalikes.
IMAGE: PERSPEKTIVET MUSEUM TROMSØ VIA FLICKR

IT'S A WRAP

Lexington is introducing a new colour for my favourite kitchen towels: forest green. I love it. Of course. Wrap pretty loaves of bread in these, tie a string or ribbon around it, and have a quick set of holiday gifts ready for delivery.
IMAGE: PRODUCT IMAGE LÄNNA MÖBLER WEBSHOP

DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS

Danish Furniture company Skagerak has been in production since the 1970s. Their fire bowl Helios, is on my winter wish list. Wouldn't it be lovely to not have to undress all of those layers of clothes to have lunch after you've been tumbling in the snow. Just grill some hot dogs or heat a lamb stew á la Hahnemann, and get right back to family fun.
IMAGE: PRODUCT IMAGE SKAGERAK

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

This is the season for celebrating light, and candlelight is pretty and all, but doesn't really light up a room enough for hours of reading and homework. Spotlight Puck by Åke Hultgren, produced by Örsjö Belysning, is discrete but fun, available in eight colours, has a dimmer, and looks like a good candidate for the boys' room. 

IMAGE: ÖRSJÖ BELYSNING

THE PRICE IS RIGHT

This is the right shade of red for "my" Christmas. Table runner Rips from ICA Hemma is washable and doesn't cost me an arm and a leg. Which means I may actually put it on the table during the holidays, rather than store it with the rest of the table linen heirlooms warming my shelves until the kids have grown a little older...
IMAGE: PRODUCT IMAGE ICA HEMMA WEBSHOP

NOVEMBER

Peasant Interior in Winter by Carl Larsson.
IMAGE: Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.

MEET MR MUFFIN HIMSELF

Look what I discovered at Åhléns! A sweet guinea pig that looks like Mr Muffins. The perfect company as you read the story, and then little children digest the story in their own time through play. If I were a teacher, this darling and the book about Mr Muffins would be a great teaching method for talking about ageing and the passing of loved ones.
IMAGE: PRESS IMAGE ÅHLENS

FAMILY WEEKEND READS

  

This weekend, with all its Halloween gore and its Allhelgona grave visits, we'll make sure to have a few real conversations about death and dying. Three Swedish books that are a great, age appropriate, introduction to the topic of death and dying:

All the dear little animals, by Ulf Nilsson and Eva Eriksson is about a small band of children who decide to become undertakers for animals. Available in English, read the excerpt here.

Farewell, Mister Muffin, also by Ulf Nilsson and illustrated by Anna-Clara Tidholm is by now a Swedish children's classic. The family guinea pig is ageing and one day he gets a stomach ache. Available in English, and Norwegian. Read an excerpt here.

One of Astrid Lindgrens finest pieces, The dragon with red eyes, is our family favourite for fall. In the most gentle of ways it tells the story of a small family member born different from the others, and eventually fly alone into the sunset. It is sadly out of print in English, but available in Norwegian, German. Read an excerpt (in Swedish) here.
IMAGES: PRODUCT IMAGE BONNIER CARLSEN, RABÈN & SJÖGREN

TAMING THE CHAOS

We had a wooden sofa in our kitchen when I grew up. Perhaps that's why I'm so fond of this black one from Danish Oliver Furniture. A modern take on a traditional Scandinavian piece of furniture. I would love to have one in the hallway to line up the kids and tie their shoes on, pull off their boots from, and hide their chaos in.

And no, it would not serve as shelf for my teapot!?
IMAGE: PRODUCT IMAGE OLIVER FURNITURE WEBSHOP

ALLHELGONA

In Sweden, we celebrate Allhelgona afton on Friday and Alla helgons dag on Saturday. In Norway, Allehelgensdag is on Sunday. (Need a recap?) This weekend is the first time we will be able to visit a family grave on this holiday, which makes the day all the more meaningful.
IMAGE:SKOGSKYRKOGÅRDEN PELLE STEN VIA FLICKR

TWINKLE TWINKLE

I have been set on finding the perfect white star for our windows, but am always drawn towards the metal kinds instead... Ludwig in copper coloured paper looks great in a Betlehem-meets-Scandinavia kind of way. 

IMAGE: DESIGNONLINE WEBSHOP

SAKSINVATNET

IMAGE: ANDERS MOHLIN VIA FLICKR, CC

COUNT YOUR DEGREES

I had to run back to the house and get warmer mittens for my son as we were getting ready to go to school. An outdoor thermometer would be handy. Byggfabriken has four handsome ones. A pretty little mailable gift for home owners around the world. 

IMAGE: PRODUCT IMAGE BYGGFABRIKEN WEBSHOP 

MULTI PURPOSE

What is going on over at Hemtex? I usually never set foot in that store and now, BOOM, I want this and that and this and that and what not. Table cloth Loke is a bargain at 129 SEK. 

Seasonal items irk me, I don't want to store things for 11 months and use it for 2 weeks. But this would look good with a colourful summer buffet, look great with orange for Halloween, on the children's table for Thanksgiving, and still last through November as we introduce green and red in the home in preparation for advent, and work the extra shift for informal family dinners in January. 

IMAGE: PRODUCT IMAGE HEMTEX WEBSHOP 

GAME ON

I love gifting Scandinavian Memo games, especially during Christmas. It's a subtle introduction to Scandinavia through characters, objects and colour, and at the same time its an invitation to engage with other family members, rather than watch a screen during down time. The brilliance of games where you have to find matching pairs is that all ages, and languages, can play together.

There is an amazing range of memo games available in most book stores and online in Sweden. Barnbokhandeln.com is one of my favourites and dangerously wonderful to browse.
IMAGES: PRODUCT IMAGES BARNBOKHANDELN

A TALL ORDER

We live in small quarters, but with a large family and good neighbours there are plenty of occasions to invite people over for a Swedish fika. I've been looking for a tiered stand to serve many while leaving plenty of room on counters and tables for hot drinks and more snacks. This one from Bruka Design is best in show so far. You can take it apart between uses, so it stores easily. Pretty enough for a party, casual enough for a family gathering.

Now, if they would just make the rod in two sizes, so I could choose how high I want to stack my baked goods (a.k.a how much time I used sleeping the night before instead of baking) it would be a definite winner.
IMAGE: PRODUCT IMAGE BRUKA DESIGN, USED WITH PERMISSION

A DIFFERENT KIND OF TREASURE HUNT

Planning a family weekend in Scandinavia? Fall is the ultimate time to enjoy the thousands of sculptures that grace the streets and parks of Scandinavian cities.

In spring there is a busy liveliness in the parks. Birds chirping, children running, and the sharp rays that awaken green life bursting from every branch. But in fall, the pace slows down. The rustling of leaves in deep ochre, blood red and moss green, the scaly bark of trees, provide a rich backdrop for sculptures who seem to come alive in the glow of the low afternoon sun. The seasonal difference is so transforming that even children find it a fun outing to discover sculptures on a city walk.

Next weekend we're circling destinations on a map and will let the kids navigate us around Oslo. We'll enjoy a hot drink and baked treat on a bench in one of the many parks. A great way to get to know a city as a family.
IMAGE: MORTEN F, SCULPTURE AT TROSTERUD IN OSLO, OCT 12 2014, VIA FLICKR

FATHER'S DAY IS COMING UP

In Scandinavia we celebrate Father's Day on the 2nd Sunday in November, and isn't this a refreshing alternative to the tie, sock, and shaving staples? Affordable leather apron Gourmet from Åhlens.

Buffalos aren't native to Sweden, but recently skins are sourced increasingly to Scandinavia since they're often certified as organic. After all, we'd rather the animal lived a somewhat decent life and their skin is shipped long distances, than knowing it lived a miserable life nearby.
IMAGE: PRODUCT IMAGE ÅHLENS.COM

NEW EQUESTRIAN HEIGHTS

Caroline Silfverling is the name behind I Love Design, and the creator of this two dimensional pile of Dalecarlian horses as well as a range of other items in the modern kitsch genre. Available at Inreda.com.
IMAGE: PRODUCT IMAGE INREDA.COM

FOOL PROOF GIFTS

This is our list of can't-go-wrong gifts from Sweden that suit all ages above 20 years, all genders, most home interiors, and all life events: wedding, christmas, birthday, anniversary, hostess gifts...

Round tray Aristida, Svenskt Tenn. Small crystal bowl Precious, by Malin Lindahl for Orrefors. His or her body scrub brushes, by Iris Hantverk. Baroque candlestick in concrete, by Tove Adman. Napkin rings available in silver or brass, by Skultuna.  Kitchen towel Siljan, by Ekelunds Linneväveri. Stoneware bowl available in 5 colours, by Höganäs. Notebook Dinners, by Ordning & Reda.
IMAGES: ORREFORS WEBSHOP, SKULTUNA WEBSHOP, SVENSKT TENN WEBSHOP, TOVE ADMAN, DESIGNONLINE, ORDNING-REDA.SE, CERVERA.SE, IRIS.SE