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

Dream On

I am contemplating donating my Dream to the opp-shop. Remember those letters and words that you could/did/wanted to scatter throughout the house? My dear Sara dislikes them and she has a point: If you put love into your front window, are you a lovelier person? Is your household filled with positive energy? Are your family members content and happy? Better put happiness onto the living room wall,too, for good measure!

Dream was already at the front door on its way out, when both Miss T and my man objected, quel surprise!!! Maybe Dream is not as invasive as love or as pressurising as happiness...

So it got a second chance on the balcony wall... half out, so-to-say. Against the gritty brown urban background, it actually works much better than before!

Speaking of dreams:

I have a dream that Nordik By Nature will develop into a little creative studio with a tiny production line, making accessories, clothing and furniture from recycled fabrics and shirts, dresses, skirts, and other materials - a re- and upcycle hub really! I dream to be the creative director of a company that develops every aspect of the business with ethical and sustainable practice and technology in mind. I would love to see us taking our passions and dream to work, making a living and living our dream as the critical mass of people who appreciate reuse-reduce-recycle grows and grows.

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

Swedish Design

My friends at this Brooklyn hub have given some attention to Mr. Forsberg - very well earned if you ask me! Check out their website and enjoy the photography. The website design isn't so bad, hm?!

Naturally, Anke