Archive for Scandinavian design
More pear prints for babies
This pear print high chair has been on my bloggage radar for ages, but it was seeing it used in a French restaurant this summer that reminded me to actually feature it, along with other pear-inspired baby products.
Back to the highchair: it’s beautiful, it’s made by Cosatto and has many amazing features for the super-organised parent/carer. While I have been known to resort to a cushion, towel and a large scarf to tie my offspring onto a chair, this option is more stylish. In fact, it deserves a special corner in the kitchen, unsplattered with gunk so it can ooze pearish perfection instead. (They also come up on eBay quite often. Had to just mention that quietly in case the price was off-putting.)
And if you’re using a highchair, the chances are you might need a bib (or several hundred). I love these organic, block-printed by hand, non-toxic versions by BIRCHseed – aka the mega-talented Nikki Shipard who designs and creates wonderful home, interiors and kids stuff from her Australian workshop. Find her on Twitter, Etsy and in blog form too.
I’ve only recently clocked Nature Baby – an organic kids clothing company based in New Zealand, but available to purchase online. I’m particularly fond of their pear print, organic newborn gift set (including the following items - 1 x Long Sleeve Bodysuit, 0-3M; 1 x Knotted Beanie, 0-6M; 1 x Towelling Bib, 0-6M; 1 x Wrap and 1 x drawstring bag). Follow Nature Baby on Twitter for updates and general info.
American organic baby (and mums and pets) clothing company Sckoon (also on Twitter and Facebook) make a range of pear print items for bubbas – this outfit can be found here, and they also make washable organic nappies – with pears, of course. See below.
Finally, before you are stunned pearless, here are a selection of baby pear outfits from Swedish kids clothing design fiends DUNS (also made from organic cotton). I strongly recommend you check out their autumnal pear print items for babies and older kids (see their Facebook page for more details). This fabric deserves to be available for all ages, but I’ll let it go for now.
You can buy DUNS clothing from UK stores such as Love it Love it Love it. See below for the romper suit followed by the kimono baby vest:
Marimekko pear quilt
This quilt leaves me lost for words. I simply cannot imagine anything nicer to spread over a pram for an Autumn stroll, or tuck around your knees as you curl up with a good book and a steaming mug of green tea at the end of a long day. The spectacularly poised Marimekko print, the stitch-perfect quilting and equally delectable backing simply could not fail to lift your spirits.
You can see in the sun-dappled photo above that smckey has mastered the art of marrying a traditional craft with twentieth century Scandinavian design, the ultimate in attention to detail and twenty-first century beauty too. You can visit her Etsy shop here for even more examples of quilting heaven (I love Confetti Parade) or take a peek at her blog for an insight into quilting, crafts, and the meaning of life. Phew, finally someone’s come up with an answer to that conundrum.
Getting back to the pear print (which is stipple quilted in green and white on one hundred per cent cotton fabric), you might be interested to know a bit more about the backing fabric – it is “willow orchard” by Alexander Henry. And for more patterns from this particular designer studio, check out a recent (ish) Print & Pattern post here.
The quilt itself is 54″ x 32″, you can machine wash and dry it, it’s utterly unique, it can be posted to your door, and … what else? Well, don’t get me started on how I’d love to redecorate my quasi-study with this quilt hanging on the brick wall above a retro desk and an Eames chair in matching green or contrasting mustard (the one below is from John Lewis).
Grown-up owl glam
I have just returned from one of the most stylish weddings ever. This time in Parknasilla (@parknasilla), Co. Kerry, Emerald Isle. And if I hadn’t worn a vintage sixties chocolate lace number with a dark brown faux fur stole and cute matching kitten heels, I’d have plumped instead for a fitted, plain wool dress and some serious owl adornment.
And when I say serious, I mean stylish, considered and unique. This is hard when it comes to owls – there are many cutesy, kidsy designs out there. Or else faffy crafty (you know what I mean). But for grown-up owl glam, you need look no further.
Paul & Joe (@Paul_and_Joe) graced last season’s catwalk with some stunning owl accessories (see above), but now it’s the high street hitting home. Step into to the limelight Monsoon/Accessorize, Betsey Johnson and ASOS.
The Monsoon (@MonsoonTweets) Wise Owl Pendant at the very top of this blog post is only a tenner, so don’t expect real pearl eyes. It is still lovely though, and so is the branch it perches on.
Once again, we have Jen Green to thank for finding this Betsey Johnson (@xoBetseyJohnson) Owl Pin. Pretty steep at $50 but funky, fun and flexible (stick it in a lapel, on a dress or into your favourite bag). It’s also available as a necklace here.
Finally, ASOS (@ASOS). If you want a little less of the eighties bling vibe, and more of the funky scandinavian colour block in your owl accessory, then this is probably the best of the crop, and beauteous value too, at only £8. Get yours online here.
Now I’m pretty sure I’ve only skimmed the surface of high street owldom (I know there are some superb examples in Dorothy Perkins, for example).
So, lovely readers, if any of you would like to add your own suggestions or links or hints to those gems I’ve missed out, just post a comment below and the best one will receive something nice and owlishly jewel-y in the post.
Pears on china
Who knew there were so many pear-printed mugs out there? I’ve found a selection of my favourites, and thought I’d share them with you.
The one above is a Cath Kidston fine china tea cup, designed exclusively for Churchill China. You can buy them on Amazon here, for a mere £4. Bargain.
Next up (above) is this bone china cup from the dotcomgiftshop – a steal at £5.95. Very Orla-esque, but original nonetheless.
I couldn’t not include this classic Lotta Kühlhorn design for Scandinavian brand Koloni (below): perfect in its very pearness, and at only £7.95 from Illustrated Living, totally unmissable. (Check out an earlier blog post all about Lotta Kühlhorn’s apple print chopping board here.)
At £10.50, the mug below is a smidge pricier than the others, but the unusual chunky pear design makes up for it: quite a change from sleek Scandinavian curves, this Alice Apple pattern is something out of the ordinary. You can find them on Alice’s website here, and don’t forget to check out her other products on Etsy too.
Finally, to finish, it has to be the Orla Kiely pear mug – originally designed for Target, but available all over the interweb. I found this one chez Illustrated Living (again) for £7.25 and was sorely tempted (again).
Eskil design owl necklace
It’s about time for an owlish post. And a good time to introduce you to one of my most recent owl indulgences: an Eskil design owl necklace. The low down is as follows – simple gold chain with black engraved owl pendant (boy owl one side, girl owl the other) dangling in a charming owlish fashion from one ear (is that owlish? I don’t know, but for the purposes of today’s post, it is). I’ve been wearing mine with a chocolate linen maxi, in case anyone’s interested. And can I just mention that it arrived through the post in funky Scandinavian designer-style packaging, which probably makes sense, seeing as this particular owl was created by Swedish designer Emilia (you can buy her stuff here on Etsy).
Kristian Vedel wooden bird
It feels a bit cliched to include Vedel‘s wooden bird here – it is such an obvious choice for anyone interested in toys, Scandinavian design, birds or mid-century modern desirables. But I remember the first time I saw one – on the desk of an uber-cool designer I was working with. I was fascinated by the way you can adjust the bird’s head, even minutely, and its expression changes completely. Perfect when you’re a little distracted and need time out to figure how to proceed on something computerish. Luckily I received one as a gift last year and it is now sitting on the freecycled teak sideboard, looking out the window at the garden. Thanks Mark!
Vintage Jelanie pear print
Image © Jelanie
You used to be able to order this retro pear print from Jelanie’s Etsy shop, but not at the moment. You can check out this designer’s website though, and see what she’s been up to with other fabulous fruity prints. The pears scream Scandinavian design and would work beautifully as a fabric too. Imagine the soft furnishings, the wallpaper, the homeware. Maybe even the odd bag or two, or some fabric-backed notebooks for special lists. While we await pear heaven, I may just download some screen wallpapers from Jelanie’s Flickr stream to tide me over. Delectable.
Nectar & Perch bookends
Cripes. My favourite birds, alongside my favourite things (apart from creme eggs). In case that’s obscure, I mean books. I have a problem with storing them, despite numerous expensive shelving systems and book cases. So these bookends by Mexican eco designers Neko would be a very welcome, and stylish, addition to our home. They’re so clever too: the vertical part of the bookend is hidden inside the book cover, so the magnetic birds look like they’re holding up books all by themselves. How cool would they look with a Farrow & Ball Charleston Grey wall in the background and a stack of Persephone books in the middle? And the best part? They’re made from recycled aluminium and steel, so they’re eco friendly too.
The Marimekko pear
Fruity pop art. The iconic Marimekko Päärynä (Finnish for pear) print. Seen here on white, but also available on a midnight blue background. I have a stretchy T-shirt top and a dress with this pattern on the blue and they never fail to draw a comment or two whenever I wear them. I think it has something to do with the pear perfection: the shape is crisp, the colours are bold yet understated, the pattern is soothing. I’m not sure you can still buy the Päärynä clothing range in Marimekko shops, but you might find something sweet on Ebay….
