Keep calm and read on

Have you come across these great little posters lately? Very decorative and easily adaptable. I cant decide which one is my favourite...

 

 

Having had a sneak on google images and Pinterest, there is one for every animal fan and every vehicle...

I think I'll go with the furry friend for my diary cover!

Naturally, Anke

Makrame

Makrame - the word that led me to Morocco and to Sweden and back to Germany 30 years ago... Not quite yet physically travelling, but a journey of the very young creative mind.

With a sailor in the family and much water around and grandma's small farm operation to enjoy, rope was everywhere: boats, horses, ornaments - they all depended on these natural threads.

It is not only a pleasure to see them reemerge, it seems that the longevity and versatility of rope has made a comeback for reasons of sustainability - we have come to understand that it is a much superior material to plastic!

Thank you, DS, for inspiring me again to assemble and braid some strings!!! With Easter holidays looming, Miss T will have to show some enthusiasm and may hop to school with a little makrame bag of her own soon...
Have you tried it? Please share your creations!!!

Naturally, Anke

Make An Entrance!

The girls from Nordic Fusion in Manly, Sydney, have done some great work bringing Nordic Design to Australia - they shared this beautiful home shot today on FB - a rare find!!!











It looks like it could be a weekend project!
And don't you love the wide entrance door with the glass panel? Practical yet stylish and visually pleasing! All shown materials could easily be sourced second-hand - particularly the glasswares and ceramics...
And that thought makes me want to go to Varmland this Australian winter and check out more loppis! ;-)

Naturally, Anke

Bunnies by Anja

Frau Kaennchen has done it again: I am in love with Anja Rieger's bunnies!!! Animal friends, alive and imagined, are very very important in our household, see these beauties. They put a smile on our faces every single day. 

Aren't they adorable???

If you think so too, but are not quite sure where you could feature them, check out the Design Ideas. Anja's website is in German, but you can visit her on FB and she does speak English! Thank you, Anja!!!

Naturally, Anke

Coaster Gallery

A long narrow hallway is often difficult to decorate, particularly if there is not much light. Large paintings are out of the question and so many opt for small photo frames to display family memories. Here is another idea:

Ein langer, enger Flur ist oft schwierig zu dekorieren, vor allem, wenn es nicht viel Licht gibt. Grosse Gemaelde sind tabu und daher entscheiden sich viele fuer kleine Foto-Rahmen, die Familien-Erinnerungen zeigen.
Hier ist eine andere Idee:

 I have found these coasters last week - and you might have read about my current obsession with all things Parisian - and since they DID look tacky on the table, I had to find another way of displaying them without displeasing the other members of the family.
So with a little help of my friend "the blue sticky", they have become a daily reminder of the exciting week we had au bord de la Seine last August.


Letzte Woche fand ich diese Untersetzer - und Du hast vielleicht ueber meine momentane Besessenheit, was alles Parisische angeht, gelesen - und da sie auf dem Tisch ziemlich kitschig aussahen, musste ich eine andere Flaeche finden, um sie darzustellen, ohne die Augen der anderen Familienmitglieder zu beleidigen.
Also wurden sie mit Hilfe meines Freundes "das blaue Klebende" zu einer taeglichen Erinnerung an die aufregende Woche, die wir im letzten August am Seine-Ufer verbracht haben.

And since the Goddess of Opp-Shopping meant well, she handed me these Sydney photographs a few days later. Speak about the universe conspiring...!!!

Und da die Goettin des Opp-Shoppings es gut mit mir meinte, gab sie mir noch diese Sydney-Fotografien ein paar Tage spaeter mit auf den Weg. Na, wenn da mal nicht das Universum wieder einen Plan schmiedet...!!!

And there were not only the coasters... - 6 placemats, too! What might I do with these???

Und da waren nicht nur die Untersetzer... - 6 Sets auch noch! Was koennte ich denn damit machen???

As so often, these beauties will go and await their fate safely stored in the chest.

Wie so haeufig werden diese Schoenheiten ihr Schicksal trocken und sicher im Sideboard abwarten.

Naturally, Anke

12 von 12 - Februar 2012

I love this idea! Caro and a friend of hers started it.
Here we go...

I am not the only one up early it seems. Nugget awaits breakfast service which is duly performed.

Rare... an almost empty beach at the end of the day.

Did you know that Mardi Gras has kicked off on the weekend? Fair Day was rained out in the end, but there are many more moments to look forward to! ;-)

Oh, and don't forget to say something special on Tuesday...

 

I havent sold anything on Ebay lately, so using a spare moment to offer the benches and the dotted dress - hard to let either of them go!

A good book, a great idea, yippyyayyeah!, another image idea for the blog and another project coming up - great weekend!

 

 

Naturally, Anke

The Est Magazine

The Est Magazine is a revelation! To me anyway...!

Is is testimony to my friend B's remark yesterday that our life has been influenced by Nordic design, but less so by Nordic culture or food - but with the rise of Swedish thriller writing and Australian-Danish relations growing from top to bottom of society and business, this is changing. This issue of the mag is just plain wonderful, a treat for every design & decor sweet-tooth!

By the way, please watch the Swedish original, not the US release - you WILL enjoy the authentic plot and landscape more in its homeland setting, promise.










Naturally, Anke

Nordik Beauty

Wherever I am in the world, I cannot escape the beauty of my hometown in all seasons. Particularly the harbour always amazes, with its majestic cranes on the horizons, its architectural statements and its pristine clarity. There are many reasons why this blog has its name - and the passion for fine photography of nordic landscapes is definitely one of them!

Find these here, and enjoy!
Naturally, Anke

I am definitely having a red year...

Four weeks into 2012 , there is no denying that red things are coming my way!!! Scarily so!

I am quite excited though. Having gone through a few years of blues and greens and many turquoises, with a stint in naturals lately, red is definitely pushing its way in!

Is this a subtle way of this blog guiding me through some intuitive colour choices when it comes to Scandinavian classics? Well, it makes me happy!

And this song does too!

Naturally, Anke

My Inspiration: “Home is an invention on which no one has yet improved.” Ann Douglas

This is where I come from. And these will be my stories.

Naturally, Anke