Scandinavian Designers II by Boråstapeter - A sneak peek!

 

For some time ago I received a stunning huge sample of Boråstapeter's new wallpaper collection that is being launched on 15th June. It is called Scandinavian Designers II and is full of breathtaking patterns! I just love the designers that are included in this collection and could not be happier to have these sample pieces of my own! I guess you will see examples of these patterns every now and then ahead, as I cannot resist moving the sheets around in my home, fastening them on my walls, framing them or just elegantly piling them here and there on some table or in a corner. I am fond of patterns and design and these by iconic Scandinavian designers are just my favourites right now. I think they will be a hit for wallpaper seekers during summer 2016 and I can imagine how well the summery, flowery patterns would look e.g. in a summer residence.

 

If you like me recently have painted all walls white and there is no particular wall available to change, I suggest you do like me. Just frame a smaller piece of the wallpaper and voilà, you have a lot of new picture frames cheering up your walls! I think it is a real design treasure to have any of these patterns, as these are rare and some of them have been created as early as in the 1940s!

 

The designers are Stig Lindberg, Lisbet and Gocken Jobs, Viola Gråsten and Arne Jacobsen! Stig Lindberg would have turned 100 years this year and his pattern Berså, which was originally featured on coffee cups and other items is now also available as wallpaper. 

 

The collections consists of 14 patterns in several colour variants. I think it is splendid that old design patterns are taken into use in new areas and in that way let us of newer generations take part of the wonderful art that existed during times gone by. Sometimes I feel that the illustrations and patterns in the 1950s were so much nicer than the new ones are today.

 

Patterns in my photos above:

 

1. 1790 Aurora

2. 1791 Rabarber

3. 1758 Pottery (brown), 1759 Pottery (blue)

4. 1792 Rabarber

5. 1790 Aurora

6. 1762 Poem d 'Amour

7. 1760 Pottery

8. 1765 Poem d 'Amour

9. A mix. On top you see Berså 1752 (blue), 1750 (green) and 1754 (orange).

In this previous post you can also see a glimpse of the Berså 1753 (yellow) wallpaper that I have framed.

 

 

 Aren't they beautiful?

Colouring book euphoria

I haven't had time to try the adult colouring book trend yet, until today. I just had to document it with my phone, because this is how far I got before I realized that this is crazily fun! You had me at two colours...! Real colouring book euphoria here! New coloured pens needs to be bought, though. The ones I had did not match all colour shades I imagined. Wisely I started of course with the nicest page... :) It is not as easy as you might think. A lot of hard decisions to make. :) Have you tried? You should. At the same time I noticed that I somehow peacefully started to process visual impressions from the previous days. Maybe it opened up some unconscious parts of my brain...

This page is from Liselotte Watkins colouring book Watkins Värld. I will from now on keep my eyes wide open for more colouring books to stock up with! The more intricate, the better! It will of course take some time until this book is filled, but I am eager as you see!
 

Colouring book by Liselotte Watkins

Some of you might remember that I earlier wrote about the huge trend with colouring books (see here) and also about the illustrator Liselotte Watkin's art and home. In January she is publishing her first colouring book, Watkins värld : en målarbok,  and as I like her art I am looking forward to this book. Such a pity it is not for sale before Christmas, because it would have been the perfect gift for yourself or anyone. The price is not much for art by Liselotte herself, and maybe one book would be needed for colouring and experimenting, and one for saving as a black and white copy. The leaves are perforated so are easy to tear out!

Thanks for the tip Weronica!
 

New trend | Colouring books for adults

 

Pictures borrowed from Johanna Basford's colouring gallery by users + Passion for pencils

I was really inspired when I read about colouring books for adults in my local newspaper! This seems to be a real craze and new phenomenon, which has hit the world. In USA the national colouring book day (!) was celebrated on 2nd August, for the first time ever. Even in France the Parisian elite is said to be colouring in the cafés of the capital.

The popular trend is said to cure stress, be permissive, portable, uncomplicated, nostalgic and a counterbalance to the digital world around us. For once, no screen is involved. When colouring, it does not need to get ready or good, it is the cooperation between eye and hand and the concentration on colours that is soothing and relaxing. At the same time you must be creative and decisive about which colours to choose next.

One of the most popular illustrators right now is Johanna Basford from Scotland. Her first colouring book "The Secret Garden" has sold more than 2 million copies. A coloruing book with black and white pages of flowers, leaves, trees and birds. The art in the book is super intricate and for adults.

Colouring books for adults have for a longer time been topping or taken up nearly half of the well-known bestseller lists. Interesting, isn't it? I am curious to test this out. If some leaf becomes really nice, you could probably also tear it out and frame it...

Have you heard of and tried this trend yet? If so, do you like it? I will try to get hold of Johanna's books, but seems that "Secret Garden" is sold out here right now. In October her next book appears, "The Lost Ocean". It is also said that another colouring book is appearing in October by George RR Martin, with pictures inspired from the TV-series Game of Thrones.

Johanna Basford quotations in The Guardian:

"I'm a grown-up but I still like colouring books."

“I think it is really relaxing, to do something analogue, to unplug. And it’s creative. For many people a blank sheet is very daunting - with a colouring book you just need to bring the colour.”

Pictures of amazing artwork can be found all over Instagram. People are proud to show their masterpieces.

"I reckon people are taking their kids’ pictures off the fridge and replacing them with their own.”

Seems to be worth trying. Will you?
 

Esteri Tomula | Pastoraali pattern

I bought some white porcelain plates in different shapes some time ago. Still wondering what do with them and what to paint. Lately I have tried to learn from the best by doodling details and imitating illustrations from the 50s and 60s. I know that I will not be able to do anything advanced first time on porcelain but at least it is fun to play with the ideas. Above are some drawings by the pottery artist Esteri Tomula for Arabia (1965-69). Love them! Would definitely by any pieces on the flea market if I would come across.

Well, I probably end up doing some dots instead. But at least I have imitated all single details above on paper. Maybe I am able to turn it into something new and own later.

Would like to do so much more creative stuff, but you know. Then you have to sleep, eat and work, too! :)

 

Second Advent

 

 

It is a real challenge to photograph in the evening dark, but I hope you anyway can see my new work of art, made by Ditte Gjøde?  I like the colours in it! So me! I found a light wooden frame that I thought matched the nuances in the best way.

 

Look through Ditte's whole beautiful gallery here. I thinks the Glimpse family is just awesome and I had a real hard time choosing. This one ended up as my favourite (it is number #5), but take a look also at the other ones that I selected to a previous collage here.

 

The rest of the evening I will spend in the TV-sofa (so worth it after all unneccessary Christmas stress..!) with cappuccino looking through the last two episodes of Revenge. Hope all is well! Happy new week!

 

 

Art by Gjode

I found the most beautiful illustrations yesterday that would all suit so good in a picture gallery on my wall. They are all made by talented Ditte Gjøde.

The first collage shows four nice posters called Glimpse. What a wonderful mixture of colours! The nuances are just so me. They would all match good with Ditte's other black and white posters, for example the forget-me-not poster and the botanical prints.

 

See more here.

Pictures | Gjode

 

Painting

 

I found a painting that I made four years ago. The bright colours make me a lot happier and in fact it feels a little special to have a piece of your own mixed with the rest of your interior. I think I will leave it there now, on the sideboard. The mix and contrast of original and framed posters makes it more real and interesting.

 

Perhaps I would need to make more paintings soon. It is fun. But time-consuming.

 

 

Enjoy the Sunday!

 

 

Aalto vase | Iittala

See more usage possibilities here and here,

for the days without flowers.