better late than näver

Lotta Jansdotter, a Swede who now lives in New York, recently launched a line of apparel. I adore this Ruta Blue top. But it’s the necklace that has me scouring the internet for “björknäver halsband.” Lotta found the woven birch bark necklace at a flea market in Sweden. Apparently weaving the bark of birch trees into pretty things is a traditional technique that totally eluded me for the five years I lived there. Now I’m pining for this piece of jewelry (pun intended!). If anyone knows where I can find one, please let me know. I don’t have a Swedish grandmother who can show me how to make one myself!

the swedish cirkus is in town

Finding new children’s clothing brands feels a little like being on a treasure hunt. Especially when that brand is Swedish! All of us on this side of the pond can find Plastisock’s adorable designs at ittikid.com (which also sells Småfolk!!). I’m completely in love with this cirkus print and so wish the skirt above came in adult sizes, too.

 

Psst … Check out Wee Westchester for a free shipping code to ittikid!

reclaiming my love of gray

Benches for that rustic picnic-table look. Fold-down design for easy storage. Stained gray. And an IKEA price tag. It’s like the perfect storm of patio set love for me. Right now, though, it seems everything has me at “stained gray.”

from wallpapercollective.com

ikea nyvoll

from designsponge.com

po.p + polka dots

File this under “stuff I wish they made in my size!”

Seen on Polarn O. Pyret’s Swedish site and *hopefully* arriving soon at polarnopyretusa.com.

sjo-ing off

For once, the piece I am in love with is actually sitting in my living room. It’s our new custom-designed TV cabinet by Denver’s Dan Sjogren of Sjotime Industries (pronounced “showtime”). Yes, it’s a Swedish name … perhaps why I like him and his style so much! The front of this cabinet pulls down to reveal the BluRay player and cable box. But we never need to open it, because there are cutouts for the remote signal. Genius! Dan is an up-and-coming furniture maker who was recently featured in Sunset Magazine. I helped him with the copy on his website and am totally rooting for this talented designer to be able to keep making beautiful pieces like these…

what a doll

The same weekend that creative Portland peeps wowed me at the Portland Bazaar, there was even more creativity to discover at the much-bigger Crafty Wonderland. I went home empty-handed but really, REALLY wish I could have brought home one of these handmade, adorably dressed dolls by hasenpfeffer. (My husband had sticker shock.)

ho ho bobo

December and blogging did not really work out in between my busier-than-normal workload and christmas frenzy. But in the middle of it all, I spent a weekend at the Portland Bazaar. That’s where I discovered Poler and a few other gems, including French children’s designer Bobo Choses. Yet another collection I wish they made mama-sized.