Time flies

I really don't know what happened to this whole week. All I know is that Easter holiday started today and in ten hours I should already be sitting on a plane headed to Istanbul. Perhaps it was the sunny and warm weather that hit Stockholm this week that has made it impossible to be stressed out about anything. (Usually I stress extensively about packing.) I've been sitting outside "studying" and enjoyed running in the evenings that are getting lighter and lighter.

At this point I'm almost done with packing. The last thing on my to do list is the dishes, and sleeping of course...

But before I go I would like to show you this picture of the Swedish påskris, or virpomavitsa as we call them in Finland. Tomorrow is the Palm Sunday and kids will go from door to door dressed up as little witches, handing out these decorated birch twigs and asking for sweets in return. Kind of like Halloween in US I guess.

I got these about a week ago when a girl in my Swedish class made a presentation about Swedish Easter traditions. She had brought them with her but since she already had some at home she gave them to me afterwards. They have grown tiny leafs which in Finnish are called "mouse's ears". It's so nice to have a little bit of spring inside.

Happy holidays to all who celebrate Easter! See you in ten days!

Sea Life

Last Saturday I visited water museum Aquaria here in Stockholm. All other visitors either were children or had children but still it was so much fun. I am fascinated with sea creatures and although this has nothing to do with anything (especially design) I want to share these photos with you.

Inspiration

Lately many bloggers have been writing about the things that inspire them and about the pieces of memorabilia they like to display in their homes. Sadly, I have left most of my collections in Finland where they are now neatly packed and waiting for me at our summer cottage.

Out of the few things I brought these are perhaps most dear to me. There is a seashell my brother brought for me from his holiday in Portugal and the first ever birthday card I got from my boyfriend, which I have framed.

I have been swimming and diving my whole life, it is just the most natural thing for me. I also love being by the sea. That is probably one reason why I find these things so special. In addition to the fact that they remind me of two people that are very dear to me.

Here you can have a better look at the birthday card. It is a picture called "Das Bootshaus" by Quint Buchholz from a book called "Am Wasser". If you look carefully you will see that the orb in the sky is actually the Earth, which makes you wonder where exactly is this boathouse located. It is like something out of a dream. It inspires me to look at things from a different angle and to use my imagination.

If you would like to share with me the things that inspire you, I would be happy to hear.

Japanese Gardens

I really adore Japanese gardens. I like the way water, gravel and stones are used and how everything is in balance. There is also a strange quietness in them, it feels like time standing still.

As far as I know there are not that many Japanese gardens in Finland, or in Sweden for that matter. So mostly I must content myself with pictures. I have a couple of book on on the subject but I left them in Finland. I used to spend hours leafing through them...

Pictures from Domino

I took these pictures in the city of Kamakura in September 2005. It was such an amazing piece of old Japan and only about 50km from Tokyo. I wonder what is that pink plant protruding from the gravel.

Peaceful Bedrooms

Our whole studio is such a mess right now. We have had exams and other projects for the last two weeks so tidying up has not been a priority. The most annoying thing about it is that I hate to sleep in a messy room. I'm looking forward to having a bed room that is dedicated only for sleeping and relaxing. These lovely and light bedrooms inspire me.

Pictures from Domino

Pictures from Marie Claire Maison

Pictures from Domino

Lovely pictures

Some pieces of art are such that you can just stare into them. It's like they are windows to other worlds and amazing landscapes. It's very hard to explain actually. The works of Kristian Krokfors are like that to me. I can just look into them and forget the world around me. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Left:
Habitation II, 2004
Picture: Pratt Contemporary Art

Right:
Town II, 2004
Picture: Pratt Contemporary Art

Faraway, 2000
Picture: Studio U


Range II, 1997
Picture: ArtLine

Spring Greens

It seems that spring is finally here. Snow is practically gone, streets are dry and dusty and temperature didn't sink below zero the whole last week. Besides sunlight, here are some things that make me smile.

Left:
The cup and saucer Apila from Finnish porcelain manufacturer Arabia. It is designed by Birger Kaipiainen; the cup in 1969 and the pattern in the beginning of the 1970s.
Picture: Finnish Design Shop

Right:
Cup and saucer Berså by Swedish designer Stig Lindberg. Designed in 1960.
Picture: Nationalmuseum

Left:
Midsummer Light by the Dutch designer Tord Boontje.
Picture: the Home Port

Right:
Twiggy lamp from Moth Design, designed by Shannon Shapiro.
Picture: Moth Design

Left:
Duvet cover and pillow case Keiju (Fairy) from Finnish company Nanso. Designed by Paola Suhonen. How could you have bad dreams if your bed was filled with fairies?
Picture: Finnish Design Shop

Right:
Unikko fabric from Marimekko, designed by Maija Isola. I have a special relationship with this green Unikko pattern. In my first apartment my kitchen curtains were made from this fabric, they had been sewn by my mother in the early '70s for her first apartment.
Picture: Finnish Design Shop

Some actual news from Marimekko

I did some more digging around Marimekko and found more patterns that I loved. These are my new favourites, they have both been designed last year. On the left is "Peikonlehti" by Kristiina Isola and on the right "Onnen Apila" by Teresa Moorhouse.

Pictures from Marimekko

Spring "news" from Marimekko

I was browsing through the web page of Marimekko and there were some interesting things I hadn't seen before... These two patterns are my favourites in the spring/summer 2007 -line . The one on the left is "Oona" which is a reproduction from 1969, the one on the right is called "Lehtimaja" and it is originally from 1958. Both are by Maija Isola.

Pictures from Marimekko

Acrylic Furniture

For some reason I've been drawn to acrylic furniture lately. They are just so light and ethereal. I like the way they often have such strong contrast between the material and the form. Here are some of my favourites.

Picture from Stockhome Picture from Finnish Design Shop

Picture from Domino

Picture from Aaron R. Thomas

Above left: A small table,"Illusionbord", from a shop called Stockhome. I have no idea who has designed it. There is no information on the website.
(Edit: So the table is actually called Illusion and its from Danish company Essey. It's designed by John Bauer. This wasn't so difficult, I just took away "bord" (=table in swedish) and googled... I feel a little embarassed that it took me this long.)

Above right: The Modern Art lamp that was designed by Yki Nummi in 1955.

Middle: Of course, the Victoria Ghost chair by Philippe Starck.

Below: Lounge chair Dinette from Aaron R. Thomas.