First Christmas decoration, paper snowflakes

When my 6 year old son came home from school yesterday and wanted us to make these, I was happy to oblige. It's great to have a kid to do crafty stuff with - I don't get to do too much of it these days. Also it brings back memories of making Christmas decorations in my own childhood - good memories :-) 

In case you wonder, I made the top one and E did the rest. I think they look great together on the window with the blinds behind them.

Finn Hald dishes

I simply had to share with you my little collection of Finn Hald pottery dishes, as I recently purchased two at an auction site (the bottom two in the picture). I think all three are beautiful on their own, but I really love the way they look together.

From before I also have a Hald vase which you can see here.

Colourful Octons

This display greeted me at the breakfast table this morning. Nothing like a solid splash of colour to brighten up the day, eh? Thank you, Ellis :-)

And thank you yet again Francesca, for introducing us to (vintage) Octons. We also still love your Octons print!

 Here's a link to Francescas fab etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/listing/54039185/octons

Beautiful blues

For a short while around 1997 I was into blue stuff in my kitchen. Since then it hasn't really been 'my' colour (other than mostly Rimini blue type ceramics – but more on that in a different post). Every summer there seem to be blue stuff featured in various interior design magazines, and lately it's been growing on me again. Pictured above are some of my recent finds while thrifting. From the left: a big Cathrineholm ashtray in blue enamel, designed by Grete Prytz Kittelsen. Floral cookie tin from Ira, Denmark. On top of the tin is a tea cup and saucer in Koka Blå from Rörstrand, designed by Hertha Bengtson (a set I'm now collecting and love for its beautiful simplicity). To its right is a tin in the Unikko pattern from Marimekko (thank you Gro! ;-) and in front is a coffee cup from Bilton’s, England.

Erik Pløen lamp

At this point I have quite a few vintage ceramic lamps in my house. I really didn't need more, but I just couldn't resist this unique one when I saw it in a second hand shop last week (at a bargain, I might add). It was the blue and green pattern on its back, picturing sky and sea with birds and fish that attracted me to it at first, more than the fisherman, although I think he's pretty cool looking too :-) Also the sheer size and weight of this lamp is quite impressive. The lamp is signed Erik Pløen, one of the best known Norwegian pottery artist. The lamp dates back to 1948.

Fuglen, Oslo

Last week I had coffee with my good friend Paul (of Sweet Paul fame) at Kaffefuglen in Oslo. The interiors is just up my alley. Not only is it a cool coffee bar - you can even buy some of the interiors! It's very expensive, mind you... Check it out: http://fuglen.no/daylife/coffee-tea/

I simply love this room. The built-in shelf is fantastic, the ceiling, the lamps, even the column! Fuglen is situated on street-level at a big (then) stately building from the late 50s (I believe) where I once was fortunate enough to be working. As I remember it, big sections of the building was full of these wooden teak elements, the lamps where everywhere too - it used to be a prime example of Scandinavian mid-century architecture. I'm so happy someone has managed to keep at least some of this beautiful interiors and that it's available for everyone to enjoy.

Glass, glass, glass

My collection of glassware is forever expanding... Unfortunately it's impossible for me to find room for it all, not to mention have it all on display. I also find it hard to keep it all dusted and sparkling clean all the time (so I don't). I know I have posted most of these items at some point before, but I'll go through them again, from the left: yellow ashtray by Vicke Lindstrand for Kosta (I think), yellow candy bowl from Hadeland, blueish black dish also Hadeland, slim grey vase from Hadeland, brown bottle vase unknown (similar to Holmegaard), tiny dish from Orrefors and last but certainly not the least in this collection, a huge vase from Habitat.

Wild summer flowers

So far it hasn't been much of a summer in the part of Norway where I live. Still, have to try and enjoy what there is, I guess. Like the wild flowers. Above is a sample of what's growing like weed in our neighbourhood at the moment, and below is the best little bouquet that my son picked for me earlier this summer. Bless.

Mystery Stavangerflint tea set

Here's a pattern by Stavangerflint I really, really like. It's cobolt blue on grey stoneware. I have only come across this pattern twice and never seen it online on any blogs or web shops. I would guess it's a 70s design. If you should happen to know the name of the designer or the design, please let me know!

Also, if you know anything about the blue candle holders in the back of the photo, I'd love to hear from you.

More from the fleamarket

In hindsight, maybe the fleamarket wasn't too bad compared to last year's...

The two vases are German pottery goods.

I love smoked glass. I suspect the bowl is from Hadeland. Maybe they all are? If you know who's behind producing any of these items, please let me know.

Vintage books

I mustn't forget to show you the books I found today! First up is this pair that I bought purely for their decorative patterned covers. Both are from 1955. You might remember I have posted other books like this before (click here and here to see).

 

The graphic designer in me loves this particular 1965 book cover:

And here's a cutie – "Rut and Jan - easy reading for children" (1960):

 

I think I need to translate this next page for some of you, as I find it very sweet and not just a little ironic :-)

  

 "Jan has a friend. 

He's called Finn.

Every day Finn goes over to Jan's.

He then asks:

Will you come out, Jan?

Then Finn and Jan goes out."

Final fleamarket of the season

Again, it's gone a while since my last post. So sorry about this! I won't bore you with any excuses, I'll just get cracking...

Today saw the end of the fleamarket season around here. I was really excited about going to this particular fleamarket, as I found a lot of great stuff there last year. It didn't quite live up to my fantasy, but I did make some bargains, though. Here's the main lot of what I bought today:

If you wonder what that round wooden thing at the back is, it's a lampshade for a hanging light. The big white thing to the left of it is a planter. I'm sure it will look cool with three plants in.

Best of all, some of these items can be yours – I have set up a new online shop. It's in Norwegian, but I can ship abroad – just get in touch if you see an item on there that you're interested in. Here it is:
epla.no/shops/gjensyn

Safran by Figgjo

I've been told that a collection consists of at least three items. In which case, I've gone from having two pieces in the Safran series to actually owning a Safran collection ;-) I had the big lidded dish and the creamer from before until my latest acquaintance, Stine*, sold me the beautiful tea pot last weekend. Thanks again, Stine!

*Check out Stine’s web shop 'Hjemlengsel' on Epla here.

New vintage chairs

It's fleamarket season again and I'm happy to say that despite a growing interest in mid-century items around here, it's still possible to get ones hands on some nice pieces. This first chair is marked Svein Bjørneng, Østre Gausdal (Norway). It has a teak frame and charcoal gray wool upholstery. I tried doing some research on it and I think it might be designed by Thorbjørn Afdal for Svein Bjørneng.

This second one I found a few weeks back at my local thrift store. It's a Falcon Chair, designed by Sigurd Resell for Vatne (Norway). I think this is a later version of the chair - possibly late 70s/early 80s? If you're looking for stylish yet very comfortable lounge/easy chairs, I can recommend these!

And the last chair in this post is something as classical as a wooden rocking chair. I've been dreaming of a Mademoiselle one, but this will have to do until the day may come when I get my hands on the real thing :-)

Cup collection - before and after

You might remember this:

I was craving a display cupboard back then, and at last, more than two years later...:

The collection has grown of course, and I have more than a couple of items that there wasn't room for. (Time to do some major clearing out, I think.)

While cleaning all the cups in preparation for their new 'home', I had a look at a whole group of Stavangerflint and Figgjo ones upside down. With all their different names and stamps and little decorative elements, I thought they were worth capturing in a photo.

Need a good laugh?

I picked up this book quite at random in a bookstore yesterday. I highly recommend it - it's hysterically funny. If you have ever had the fortune of working in a bookstore (I have) or simply just like reading, I can almost guarantee this will be the best laugh you have for £5.99 this weekend: "Weird things customers say in bookshops" by Jen Campell.

Here's a little preview:

A few hours in Copenhagen

I was lucky enough to spend yesterday in lovely Copenhagen. We had red hot dogs on Strøget, browsed for Lego and enjoyed fresh Danish pastry. As you do...

Picturesque, right? I love the street name 'Naboløs'. In Norwegian that would mean without neighbours.

Illum Bolighus, one of my all time favorite shops . The open atrium letting in light and the wood paneling on the walls are the kind of architectural details that I love. I thought the spring display with the trees and the colourful birds was a nice touch.

We couldn't really afford much in Illums, but Ellis bought this little Danish design souvenir - The Hoptimist. I would have liked to have the teak version, but it was DKR 400 (about US$ 70).

The big Lego shop had to be visited as well. Here's Ellis putting together some mini figures, choosing from hundreds of different parts.

And this is the result. I love the scary guy with a cap, holding a magic wand :-)

Glorious Oslo morning

I've just been on a quick trip to lovely Copenhagen, by ferry. Coming back to Oslo in the morning and walking towards Aker Brygge, I took these snaps.







PS! I tried blogging this via iPhone first, but had to re-upload the images via my computer anyway. Any tips on how to get the images bigger via the Blogger app...?

Yo-Yo rug

How beautiful is this rug? I have a small collection of hand-made wool rugs from the 60's, but this one is my new favorite. The colour combination is just perfect, with a lovely teal background. I have a couple of my other hand-made wool rugs on the floors, but this one will get pride of place on a wall, I think. (I also cannot afford any dog accidents on this beauty... :-o)

Amongst the wool threads are also silk or linen ones.

The rug has a label on the back with name of the rug (Yo-Yo), name of design (Isern), name of maker (Elsa Løes. I thank you, Elsa!) and it's even dated (November 1969). I believe Sellgren & Co manufactured the material for rugs to DIY, possibly also the pattern.

I found the rug at my local second-hand store yesterday. I had already bought some other items and had exactly kr 64, 50 left in cash in my wallet (a little over $10) and they accepted it! Gotta love the recycling places :-)

Inger Waage Oslo dish

Here's what I found while second-hand shopping today - a little silkscreened/handcoloured dish from Stavangerflint. I have seen a few of these souvenir dishes from various places before, but it hasn't felt 'right' for me to have one from just any place. Oslo, on the other hand, I can relate to :-) Call me biased, but I think it's one of the better looking souvenir dishes too...

Last weekend I scored a couple of vintage furniture pieces in teak and rosewood that I'm excited to show you later. Stay tuned!

PS. I tried blogging this from my iPhone first. I'm not too happy with the Blogger app, though... What's your experience with the app?

Test post

I've only just downloaded the app for Blogger and this is a test. That's Kurt with his long snout, btw :-)

New vintage items

I was out thrift-shopping again on Tuesday and was about to leave empty-handed when I suddenly spotted these little cuties. The two soft pink glasses look like very small vases and are unmarked. I liked them very much as a pair. The tiny smoked glass dish is marked 'Fuga' by Orrefors and the small hand-painted ceramic cup is from Stavangerflint. It's marked by a number but no initials, but I'm pretty sure it's by Inger Waage. I was very happy to find it :-)

The next two items are 'Turi design' by Figgjoflint. The cup and saucer in this yellow and brown colour combo is called 'Siri', and is quite rare. The more common colour combination for this pattern is a dark red and teal (you can see it on the lidded dish in the next image.) In this color combo the pattern is called 'Astrid'. The cup and saucers were found in an online auction and I forked out a little in order to get it in my collection.

This little creamer is my first item in the 'Arden' series. I just love the tree illustration and I think it's one of the best items I've seen in this sought-after pattern.