Scandinavia | 129twigandvine

On the Archipeligo with Gudrun Sjõdén

19 Mar 2013 7 Comments

by Sue Schlabach 129twigandvine in Artisanal Living, Creativity, Design, Housewares, Interior Design, Scandinavia Tags: Archipelago, Gudrun Sjoden, Islands, nature, Rickie Lee Jones, Sailer's Call, Scandinavia, Sweden, The Albatross

Gudrun Sjõdén opened a shop in Soho the week after we were in New York. I was sorry to miss the grand opening. Her spring and summer collection is full of color and pattern—as I’ve come to expect—but she continues to create settings that are visually poetic and inviting.

In this collection we are welcomed to “the outer edge of the archipelago.” I can barely think of another word that I like more at this very moment. ‘Archipelago’ is the very definition of edges and nuance, isn’t it? And the photos of some obscure Swedish landscape further suggest water and thin curving spits of land reaching out, allowing a view in either direction to the other islands in the chain.

As I write I am humming The Albatross (lyrics here) by Rickie Lee Jones, a song I’ve known and loved for over 20 years, with its repeated use of the word archipelago and its maritime suggestions of a boat’s mast over the garden wall, a family living by the sea, sailor’s calls and echoes.

Another post about Gudrun Sjõdén.

Lundagård

06 Aug 2012 10 Comments

by Sue Schlabach 129twigandvine in Artisanal Living, Creativity, Housewares, Scandinavia Tags: Finland, Finnish Design, Lundagard, Ostrobothnia, Pietarsaari, Scandinavia

I wish Lundagård‘s shop was in my town. Their blog features their Finnish home and things they find—old and new—for their shop.

These lampshades are so unusual. And with my recent lampshade obsession I am wondering how they are made. The fabric looks sheer on the gray one—and you can see its reverse through the hole in the top, so it is only one layer of fabric, unlined. Hmmm. I vow to experiment more with lampshades.

I like the attitude and life approach of the couple who are behind Lundagård. This is excerpted from their website, (ending with the James Michener quote):

We are a family with four children living in the country in Ostrobothnia, Finland, in an old log house from the 1800s that we have moved and rebuilt.

Creative processes and creative solutions are part of our everyday lives. We are working enthusiastically with handicraft, colors, shapes, frames and decor both in our home and in our company Lundagård.

We are fascinated by old buildings and working with natural materials, and any form of recycling!

“The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He Hardly knows Which is Which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to Decides whether he is working or playing. To him, he’s always doing both. “

- James Michener -

The Michener quote is the clincher, no?

Lundagård recently had a stall in the Old Square of Pietarsaari, Finland. I wish I could’ve strolled by and handled the wares.

Gudrun Sjõdén

08 Sep 2011 2 Comments

by Sue Schlabach 129twigandvine in Artisanal Living, Artists, Creativity, Design, Housewares, Scandinavia Tags: bedroom, Gudrun Sjoden, Housewares, Interior Design, kitchen, Scandinavia, summer house, Sweden, textiles

Swedish artist and designer Gudrun Sjõdén just launched her new fall home collections. Two called The Allotment and The Aritist’s House particularly struck my fancy, and here are some of her luscious visuals.

Scandinavian colors and patterns might speak especially to those of us who live in the far north. I like how lived in these rooms appear and can imagine reading bedtime stories in this blue bedroom or cutting garden tomatoes at the dining table.

Which are your favorites?