Running around town and schmoozing with designers...

A few weeks back, I found a flyer on the tram for an upcoming design market, organized by a collective who go by the name of Designkollegorna.

This design market was on tredjelånggatan which is a very funky, arty little area, so I knew it would be worth checking out!

The only problem was how to get there, as it happened to be on the same day as Göteborgsvarvet...

This is a massive event, and this year there was 75,000 people running or walking in the half marathon one way or another!

It was hard to capture with my wide angle camera just how many people are filling up the Avenyn, all the way as far as you can see!

I had to ride the long way around town, to find a spot where I could get through to the other side... as it turned out, the only way to get across was to run with the flow with my bike for a bit!

There were lots of people sitting on the sidelines, clapping and cheering everyone along.
A brass band playing outside the Röhsska museum on Vasagatan, and at one point I got stuck behind a 10 person bike! 

And, just when you thought it couldn't get any more exciting, there were a couple of fighter jets zooming overhead too! 

Well, I finally made it to the house of win win, what a cool place!!
(I love discovering awesome little corners of Gothenburg like this) 

I was very impressed with the creativity and products for sale, and had a nice chat with a few of the lovely folk there.

My personal favourite was definitely Julia Åhrman's paintings, here's a link to her website with some more of her work.
I loved the frames she'd chosen for her paintings, and if I had a job right now, I would not hesitate to buy, probably this one!

Another favourite, was Linn Bjelkne who does wonderful things with winebottles.
Not only does she re-purpose the bottles in to a new product, but one bottle becomes 3 different things all in one! Flower vase, candle holder and a drinking glass. So simple, so genious!

Here's some more awesomeness by Åsa Norberger.

I had a good chat with too with Gotheburg based New Yorker Kurt Lightner about the many words which cross over between Swedish and English and mean totally different things... Once again I wish I had the money to purchase a few of his prints!

Over all it was a very inspiring day and got me thinking about what I might be able to contribute to the designmarknad next year!?

Just quickly...

I felt the urge to share the wonderful new 50's range by Sanderson!

Check out their full website here.
But just quickly, these are just a few of my favourite snippets:

How fabulous is that lamp!
And a great idea to use the left over snippets of wallpaper to coordinate your ringbinders...

They're definitely going for the nordic look with this one!

Especially the fabric on the drapes which are heavily inspired by Stig Lindberg's Pottery patten, originally designed in the late 40's... Still gorgeous after all these years!

Here's a link to his collection still available through Design House Stockholm.

On a toally different line of design, but while I'm on pattern overload mode, I thought I might throw in this totally awesome wallpaper by ECO for good measure...

And just when you thought it couldn't get any better, the leaves are raised velvet.

Lush! 

Less is more, more or less...

Ever since I first walked in to our little apartment with 3 suitcases and a small box of books... 

My first thoughts were: 

We really should paint these walls...

And then, gosh we really need some furniture!

And so I chucked white at all the walls, (as you do in Sweden) but I felt as though it really needed something to add a bit of depth and interest. To take some of the attention away from all the white...

Upon seeing that gorgeous ocean blue paint sample, I knew straight away that was the answer!

 

I know that traditionally dark colours can appear to impose which would generally not be a good idea in such a small space. 

But for some reason this particular colour in this space has the opposite effect for me. 

I think it could be because the wall is slightly recessed from the rest of the room, and perhaps it's the particular shade of blue. 

From the corner of your eye it's very unobtrusive and almost falls away...

Needless to say I think it makes a very nice contrast to the bright white! 

As much as I could go on about my blue wall all day. 

It still needed something to break it up, just a bit.

Enter the super snazzy shelving/sideboard unit for... wait for it... only 75kr!!

(plus delivery though, unfortunately we didn't realize in the store that it comes apart in to two pieces which would have made it almost possible to take on the tram, sort of kind of)

 

Oh well, it's even got a little pull out desk thing, unfortunately the key to lock the cupboard got lost somewhere between 5 mins down the road and our place...

It has very conveniently already been painted white, all be it rather roughly, but it's a very good base for when I decide what to do with it sometime in the future.

I've posted this before, but I think it's worth posting again Vamp do amazing things, very inspirational! 

As soon as it was home, (and I had lots of study that I really should have been doing) I spent a good few hours putting things on, and taking things off the shelves!!

My first reaction to this unit was, great now we have somewhere to put the STUFF and THINGS on!

But I soon realized that it was much more pleasing to the eye to take one thing away for every new thing I put on it... like I say less is more, more or less.

Click on the "Read More" to check out my (finally finished) home made lamp shade...
And this time it's not a rice paper ball creation!

Been busy getting older... and enoying the blossoms!

Ooops, well look at that! 

It's been a while since my last post...

To give you a quick glimpse of what has been keeping me away from the computer, BLOSSOMS!! 

And daffodils, and pink forget-me-nots? Oh my!

Probably the single most awesome thing about living in Sweden at this particular time of year, is that all of this happens precisely around my birthday! 

It's even worth giving up having my birthday on a public holiday (Anzac day in NZ) because autumn really isn't much different from a slightly colder summer day, or maybe a slightly warmer winter day in Wellington...

But now there is suddenly there is colour and texture everywhere! 

  

 Here's me in my best blossom camouflage on my birthday :)

But seriously, check out these trees!!

This year I decided that my Mr should get the birthday fun for a change. 

His birthday is exactly 2 weeks after mine, and the last time he got a party just for him was oooooh 6 years ago! 

With the help of some very good friends and some careful organization (which almost involved tying my tongue up to avoid giving the surprise away by accident!) 

We made a surprise party for him! 

So much fun!!

After sort of managing to hide my excitement (and nervousness) and finally managing to get us out of the apartment at just the right time...

We went across town to buy some Vegemite (approximately $9 nzd for the smallest jar!!!)

And came home to find our place filled with balloons and good friends and food, and it really could not have been any better!! 

I mean, what better gift than to be surrounded by people you love who are just so damn awesome!?

The sun was out, and the afternoon was lovely! 

We made good use of the bbq outside, and even Zebe had a great time, trying (and failing) to snaffle all sorts of treats from everyone's plates...

Next post I promise to get back up to date with the latest home im-sprucements and the last round up of sweet second hand treasures... 

Also, we're getting delivery tomorrow of a snazzy sideboard / wall shelf unit from "The best second hand store in all of Gothenburg!"

Yay, more display space for even more stuff, and things :)

Oh and by the way, I've decided to see if I can make it through this year only buying second hand clothes (and shoes)... Undies and socks will be the exception though. 

I think it will be interesting to challenge to my perception of fashion, while living in super trendy Sweden!