december

I really enjoyed making this christmas gift calendar for the kids. I've never done one before but I learned that the work I put in was a small prize to pay considering how easy it was to get them out of their beds this morning. Happy december!

in the mail

A photo from KW, the institute of contemporary art in Berlin .
By immensely talanted and generous Kristina of no penny for them.  See the photo here. I am fascinated by the depth and the reflections. I can't stop looking at it. Sinking into it. Earlier today I found my nine year old standing looking at it. All absorbed. It's calm and yet very dramatic at the same time depending on how you look. Thank you so much,  Kristina!

new wallpaper up

I posted this wallpaper before, here. Obligat mutualism by Ida Arnfelt. We bought it and last night we put it up. I am so so happy with it. This is before.

friday

Trying new things. Quorn instead of minced meat for the friday taco dinner(the kids didn't notice) and a new photoreceptive objective. With a steady hand you can take pictures in almost complete darkness. Without flash. I wish you a great weekend. We suddenly got snow here this week so I have some last minute gardening to do.

5 years later

An  unvoluntary toilet seat study. I wanted to show the new sink and the drape hiding the dirty laundry. This bathroom was an unisolated cellar storage room when we moved here. My husband chopped the concrete floor and filled two truck platforms with gault before laying the limestone floor. We tiled and painted the walls, intalled a shower and a built-in tub. A couple of years later a laundry bench, the toilet seat and the washing machine. This week (five years since we started to use the shower) we suddenly found ourself buying this Bråviken sink combined with Grundtal legstand. It's a broad sink with two taps and according to the kids that's a sensation worth telling every visitor. "Come look, we have two taps". I don't blame them. I am bragging about it here. And I forgot to mention the new mirror. Sweet everyday luxury.

october

I can't seem to find the time to blog. To much other things to do, read, plan, create and think about. I miss it though. Both posting and visiting my favourite blogs. Anyway, October is here and around the house we are changing to warmer comforters, buying lots of candles, changing the light bulbs in our lamps, cooking chanterelles and lighting fires in the tile stove. Also enjoying our cats love of warmth. When the temperature falls outside and sun warm floors are long gone they come crawling into our beds. Purring. There is so much to love about Fall.

summer

I have only three days left at work and then I'll be on my 8 week summer holiday. During the holiday I won't be posting here. At least not very regular.  But I would be very happy to see you at my other blog, Malo in the Garden, where I'll be posting my garden struggles and ideas. But also my creating and our travels. Maybe some food and decorations too. We'll just have to see where this summer leads us. Anyway, welcome to Malo in the garden

lilacs

Thank you so much for your thoughts about books and magazines. When talking to my my brother he reminded me about how we, when teenagers, used to search our parents book shelves for something good to read. I want that for my kids too so I am putting them up again. At least now they are dust free.

When that decided I am crocheting like mad dizzy from the scent of Lilacs. Happy days!

declutter

It has been unusually hot here in Stockholm the past week. Outside everything is bursting. Lilacs, apple blossom, hagberry. The scent in the air is almost overwhelming. Inside I am struggeling with too much stuff. Clothes, books, magazines, toys, blankets, piles of fabric....feels like I am drowning. I dusted all the books in our biggest book shelf this week and when done I didn't feel like putting them all back up again. I felt sort of free with all that new shelf space. First I thought of giving the books away but then I decided to keep them in our garden shed while figuring out what to do with them.
What do you do with books you've read and enjoyed but know you won't read again? If you have limited space like me? And while I am asking, my husband and I debated about how long one should keep Deco mags. We compromised on saving the ones from two years back.
Happy weekend to you all.

weekend

Back home from weekend by the sea. On our way back this 12 week old kitten kept us company in the car. She's a Devon Rex like our Malla. We decided to name her after our favourite The Wire character, Kima. The kids though - not following The Wire - thought we said Kiwi and that's her name now. Kiwi.

vacation

I will be on vacation for some days. See you back on Monday.

friday

The last couple of days has been warmer than usual for this season here in Stockholm. I hope it'll last through the weekend. I've had the great luck to find a wonderful horse to ride and take care of on the weekends. He's a Nordsvensk brukshäst, North Swedish horse and he looks something like this. He is the coolest most beautiful horse I've ever met. I'll bring the camera to the stable tomorrow.
On these photos, spring flowers from my lawn and cucumber seedlings on my window sill. Already in bloom. A month too early.

Thank you all for reading and commenting. I wish you a happy weekend.

new shelves

I've blogged about how we use the Ikea Bekväm shelves for our kids pens before, here. They are from the kitchen department and cost less than $3. They come in rough pine - very easy to paint. Now we've got them over our desk too.
When we renovated our kitchen four years ago we placed the sink in front of the window which left a dead space behind the sink against the window. An ideal place for a herb shelf. Finally done.

weekend

Our middle child didn't want his sister's old bicycle. He also suddenly refused to wear his white with pink flowers helmet. The very same helmet he picked out last spring. My husband asked him what the perfect bike would look like. With flames, he answered. So my husband spent his Friday evening searching for DIY flames on You Tube. You will never make it, i said encouraging. But of course he did. Using spray paint, newspapers and duck tape he transformed the red and rather used bike into the hottest bike on our street. At least that's what I think. And our son proudly biked his burning ride to the park. Wearing the former pink now black helmet. So here I am proud and a little bit sad. Why must it be so hard for a little boy to love pink?

herbs and light

Do you have favourite spots in your home? I have many but if forced to choose I would say the view from my hallway when coming home. It's not much. But I love the light and the old oak parquet meeting the checked linoleum. Everything is old and worn and I love that. On the table, our herbs waiting for summer and outdoor life. If you like me are into herbs you'll find inspiration here
I wish you all a happy sunny weekend.

elle deco

I've been rather uninterested in deco mags for some time. But the May edition of Elle Decoration UK really caught my eye. Its black and white matte front cover really stood out among all the glossy dittos on the shelf. I haven't read it yet so I don't know anything about the inside. Great hopes though.

And my cat. She follows me like a shadow. She's such a darling. I just can't stop posting her.

weekend

Our lawn is in bloom. Evening sun through the kitchen window while cooking dinner. I made tuna fillet for the first time. Marinated in lime, sea salt and peppercorn. Grilled and served with risotto, grilled asparagus and Parmesan. Tasted great.

weekend

Happy, happy weekend everyone!

easter holiday

We are having a wonderful easter holiday. This is our eggworld. It has grown since I took this picture. Now we have a kitchen and an angry chef. To be continued...

About the long break. I have longed for my blog, for your blogs, for this wonderful community. I am not yet sure the break is over. But right now i feel like posting.

bruno mathson

We have a pair of old easy chairs, Karin by Bruno Mathson. They need to be reupholstered and I am searching for inspiration. I found this image. Not about Karin at all. A studio by Bruno Mathson.

Below is the chairs in question. Dressed in a light blue suede resembling material. Advice or inspiration is very much appreciated. I am thinking about this