A full day in Stockholm

We got up at 4.30 am to go to the airport and fly to Stockholm last Tuesday. It was good in a way, because we got a lot done. I wasn't going to do a lot of shopping, but when Marimekko has a good sale on, I'm there... We also had a look around the interior shops at Birger Jarlsgatan, then had a nice lunch at Vurma where lemonade, extra greens, coffee and cookies are complimentary.


My latte might not have been free, but served in a beautiful glass...

One thing that is a bit annoying about Stockholm in the middle of summer, is that a lot of places are closed. Like Bakfickan at the Swedish Opera House, which we had down on our list for dinner that day. Instead we ended up next-door at Operabaren, which had the same menu, but very different interiors - all Jugend style.



We had traditional Swedish 'husmannskost'- trout grilled whole, stuffed with dill and bacon, served with boiled potatoes. Not my favorite dish of the trip, but the creme brulée for afters was unbeatable.

That evening I had an old dream come true - we went to the singalong 'Allsång på Skansen' - a Swedish institution as far as summer entertainment goes.


We got more than we bargained for when the band Larz Kristerz rounded things up with their version of Purple Rain. As long-time Prince fans, Maggie and myself were in despair. Frankie, watching the whole thing live on TV at home, texted me: They really killed it. And not in a good way.' You can see it here (if you dare):



* I feel a separate blog post on the Swedish phenomena of 'dansbands' coming on...

Stockholm trip preview

Yesterday I got back from four great days in Stockholm. We stayed centrally at Stureplan in a spacious room but unfortunately with not much of a view. A beautiful window, though...

I have lots of stuff to post from my trip, but it will have to wait until tomorrow. I'll just leave you with some great Swedish packaging design for now. Little pyramids containing milk for coffee... (Once a graphic designer, and so on.)

Olle Eksell wishlist

I got this book about Swedish graphic designer Olle Eksell a couple of years ago, and I keep coming back to it. Eksell became famous for his involvement in re-shaping Swedish graphic design in the 1950s.


Now I really want a poster with the Mazetti Ögon logo that he designed. It is one of the best known brands in Sweden, apparently. I was hoping to be able to pick one up in Stockholm when I go there, but when I search online I can only find this gallery in Malmö selling it. If any of you readers out there would happen to know of a place in Stockholm that sells them, please, please let me know!


I also wouldn't mind some of this fabulous black-and-white fabric (called Margret Rose) designed by Eksell, and a vintage tin of Ögon Kakao (Eyes Cocoa).

My beautiful laundry

Even towels and pillowcases hung to dry can be inspirational,if you're that way inclined. Better get that machine going again. Not to mention the iron...

Have a nice weekend!

Puppy playtime

Kurt and his dog cousin Xavier met for the first time yesterday. Kurt was neutred two days earlier, but this didn't stop him from throwing his weight around with the little dachshund, only 12 weeks old. They had the best time, beating each other up for hours.

Ready, steady, GO!


Long snout = great target.


A short water break


..and here we go again.


Even very energetic puppies must sleep at some point.

Exhibitions on my Stockholm list

There's quite a lot I'd like to do when I get to Stockholm next week, and these are some of the exhibitions I'd like to visit:
This summer’s major design exhibition at Liljevalchs’ Konsthall IKEA AT LILJEVALCHS. For all of us IKEA fans, this one should be good. (Thanks to Gro for the tip!)


A bit of info from their web: «Liljevalchs’ pleasurable plunge into the subject takes the form of a reflection of the development of modern society – from the emergence of the Swedish Folkhemmet to our time and to the globalised future. The exhibition provides a sky-high recognition factor as well as surprising gems from IKEA’s production.»

Then there is this Reform – nytt liv åt gamla prylar (New Life to Old Things), at 125 kvadrat.


A group of students from Kosta Glascenter are the creators of this exhibtion. They have questioned consumer habits and our tendency to buy and dispose of things at an ever greater speed. The results are re-designed objects made from thrift shop items.

One of my favorite places in Stockholm is Moderna Museet.

They now have works by artists Barbara Kruger in the entrance area. I would like to see these.

Other than that, I'd quite like to see the photography exhibition Åter Till Verkligheten (Reality Revisited), based on 1970s photos from the museums collection (mainly American and Swedish photographers).

I wasn't going to write about the other big exhibition at Moderna Museet at the moment, Clay Ketter, as I didn't think his work was my kind of thing. That was until I saw this photo of one of his works.

Being a retro dollhouse fan, I instantly recognized the shapes of Swedish dollhouse Lundby, deconstructed and all flattened out to make this piece of art. Now I'm intrigued. It says that Ketter «produced works in the borderland between architecture, sculpture and painting.» So. It looks like I might have to spend a bit longer than first planned at Moderna Museet...

Stockholm i mitt hjärta (Stockholm in my heart)

After New York, Stockholm is my favorite city. I've been longing to go there again for some time now, and reading this and this blog (scroll down a bit for several great Stockholm posts) just reinforced that longing. To cut a long story short, my friend Maggie was eager to go somewhere too, and yesterday we booked our tickets and hotel, leaving in a couple of weeks. We intend to explore and be tourists rather than shoppers... I still hope to make a few vintage bargains. It is Stig Lindberg and Marianne Westman country after all.

I visited Stockholm for the first time 10 years ago with the experienced traveller (not to mention shopper!) Paul Löwe (now of Sweet Paul fame) and I couldn't have asked for a better guide. I picked up the Stockholm Modern - a guide book to the city's design, then, and although some of the info is now dated, I still love it. (It's a shame it hasn't been updated, because it is such a well designed book.) Today I picked up my second Stockholm guide book, the Phaidon Wallpaper City Guide. It is very small, but has some good stuff in it.


In recent years I've come across the program Allsång på Skansen on Swedish TV, and having watched it a few times, it grew on me. To the extent that I now want to go there and be part of the crowd... NOT because of the audience's participation in the singing or because I hope to get on TV or anything (heaven forbid!). I think it must be that whole Stockholm atmosphere brainwashing me. So, fingers crossed, I might finally make this tacky little dream come true :-D



Top image from flickr.

Mon Amie from Rörstrand

This beautiful cup and plate are new products from Rörstrand featuring a vintage pattern by Marianne Westman from the 1950s. It's called Mon Amie (My Friend). Just right for the season, I think.

My little gardener

I'm not good in the hot weather. Sorry about the complaint, but I'm just not. Luckily I have a little garden and someone to entertain me while out there.



Watering the flowers.


Watering the dog.

Maxi dresses

My latest obsession is caused by fantastic weather - I want a maxi dress. But can I be asked to trail the shops in this heat...? I fear defeat on this mission, so I've been searching a bit online, and I quite like these:


By Marimekko. Breaking the bank, I'm afraid.


From mail order catalogue LaRedoute. I might just get this one, taking the risk that it will not fit.


H&M. Too synthetic, I'm afraid. Nothing but cotton will work in the heat.


From Asos. Not available in my size...

Coming up roses

It's suddenly turned really really hot and summery here, and I'm finding myself trying to fix up the garden a bit. It doesn't come naturally to me I don't think, green fingers and all that, but I do like some colourful flowers around me. I was trimming some rose bushes (which for once have decided to bloom fantastically) and three tiny rose buds came off, so I put them in my smallest vase, not expecting much. But this morning they had sprung and were quite stunning in their minuscule way.




Have a nice weekend everyone – I hope to bring you some more summer treats later.

Etsy shop update

I have just added some items from my vintage mid-century collection to my Etsy shop. Please check it out for more info and bigger images.

The shipping costs are based on International shipping outside of Europe. Shipping within Norway will be less than half that, and anywhere else in Europe somewhere in between. Don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions :-)

Designer home: Eero Aarnio

I keep a scrap book with articles of houses and interiors that I like. One of the houses I have in there is Finnish designer Eero Aarnio's. If you're not already familiar with the name, he is the designer behind such classics as the Ball Chair (1963), Tomato (1971), Pastillo (1968), Puppy (2005) and Double Bubble lamp (2001). Aarnio is regarded as one of the great innovators of modern furniture design, experimenting with plastics and bright colors in his furniture pieces. He's represented in some of the world's most prestigious museums (naturally :-).

I particularly like the bright, light feel of this house, all the built-in bookshelves and the touches of bright colors.

These photographs are all borrowed from photographer Rachel Smith.