Who would have known that a little bit of paint could bring so much happiness! No there has not been that many big changes to the shop but it is sooo bright! And sooooo Scandinavian! And for someone like me who loves working with a blank canvas this is just perfect. I shall hopefully be a bit more creative in the future…oh lots of ideas and so many options.
But let’s just start by getting everything back out in the shop again, took me some time I must admit and I am glad Zuzanna gave me a hand and also Richard of course (I am still working on it today and will probably be for a few days). I do recommend a little visit to the shop now since it still is rather empty and not filled with seasonal Autumn stock (just you wait).
Here are some images from the shop, hope you like it!
Welcome/Välkomna
Love our new window, simplicity at its best
Our lovely new window
Superliving, Amanda Range
Superliving, Amanda Range
Superliving, Olivia Range
Superliving, Olivia Range
Muurla Nostalige glass range
Sagaform Retro Storage Jars
Sagaform Retro Coffee cups (set of 2) and Teacup & Saucer
Muurla Yellow Leaves
Muurla Blue Flower
Spira Coffee Mugs (set of 2)
KG Design Robot Moneybanks
Hanging Wire Tealight Holders
QDO Teapots in glass
QDO Cylinder Teapots in porcelain
Sea Glasbruk Pearl Vases
Sagaform Spectra
Sagaform Pop and Taste with QDO Birdies
Linum Dream Cushions
Pappelina rugs in black, grey and yellow
Our Candle Wall
Enjoy!
Pluto Produkter, Moomin Jewellery Trees
Next week a MASSIVE delivery is due in from Swedish Spira. We saw them a few weeks ago in Borås and oh love love love them. Spria’s fabric and patterns are of fabulous quality, super stylish and happy cheerful. I think you all will love it…I really hope it will be me who gets this delivery!
And we are back in Edinburgh… Oh yes I shall take time and sit down and write all about our holiday in Sweden, don’t you worry! I am back a few kilo heavier (thank you amazing food) and all of us have a tint of green hair (yes mum lives on the countryside with their own well, and yes more minerals than expected) heard people pay lots of money for it!
First day back at the shop and I got an fantastic offer for you all this weekend and this weekend only. On Monday the shop will be closed until it is freshly painted and a few new shelves are up and looking very Scandi again. It is time for some love…
And for this reason (no of course we are not closing down) we have a flash sale today Saturday 8th and tomorrow Sunday 9th. So come on in and enjoy 20% off everything and I mean everything, including the already marked down sale stock.
So now is the time for that Pappelina rug, the wedding gift, new house, new baby, best friend or why not that amazing treat you have looking at for some time!
I am in all day, will close at 18.00 tonight so do pop in and say hi, who knows you might just find that perfect gift.
It is finally time for me and the girls to head home for a long summer holiday. Fingers crossed that the weather will be great (kind of doubt it) and we can go swimming in the lakes and enjoy a lot of ice creams and BBQ’s.
Don’t you worry Zuzanna, Ruth and Anna (Richard one day as well) will look after you. Shop is open as usual all summer.
And if you by any chance missed it, our annual clearance sale has started! Do not miss it!! Full of great bargains including lots of beautiful cushion covers and runners by Swedish Linum, super stylish table top by Danish MENU and lots lots more.
Stina, Lovisa and myself are heading home to spend time with my family and friends and hopefully suck in as much Swedish as possible. I feel like the summer holidays is so fantastic for my girls language (and mine, ten years abroad does things to your own language). We get to spend time with our family, and get bombarded with Swedish and for someone like me who struggles so much keeping up the Swedish with the girls, this is great. I just really need to make sure I won’t swap back into English as soon as Richard arrives (like I did last year). Even if Stina might answer her cousins in English at least she understands what they say.
As soon as Richard arrives we are off to meet suppliers and do a little bit of Christmas shopping, well of course we will see lots of other great designs as well. So got a lot of FIKA booked in (yay). Shall do my best in take lots of photos. Please do follow us on Facebook or Instagram. I seem to be much better at posting there than here on the blog. Then we are back early August, Stina will spend a few nights at her grandparents in Aberdeen then it is time for her to start P1 (aaarrrgggghhhhhh WHAT!!!!!!!) more about that later.
Have a fabulous July, please do pop in to the shop for your gifts (wedding, house warming, new baby, birthday, surprise, anything at all) or go on, treat yourself with some Scandi designs! Or just for a little chat. Have fun and enjoy this summer!!!
Yay it is time, our annual summer clearance sale. Now this is a great opportunity to grab a bargain. In the sale this year we have lots and lots of amazing Linum cushion covers and runners plus a few award winning designs as well as super stylish. You just have to check it out for yourself.
So tomorrow Friday from 10am Zuzanna will be ready for you. Go on pop in and go crazy :). I struggled myself not to buy it all myself. Great gifts to be had. Please do note that this is a clearance sale, no no we are not closing down, it is just time to make space for the Autumn stock (sad I know, summer has not even started yet).
A few weeks ago we took a little family holiday! Something we planned and looked forward since a family gathering around New Year. Instead of going abroad skiing with Richard’s family (like we used to) we decided to go somewhere local and Scotland is so fantastically beautiful and we do not need to travel far to experience stunning scenery and lots of fresh air. Our destination was just outside Aviemore, this is a part of Scotland I actually know (sadly I have never been north of Inverness nor the West Coast…yet). Together with Richard’s parents, sister with family and us, we rented the North Wing of Alvie Estate.
Wow what a wonderful location and we were so incredible lucky with the weather as well, no rain or wind, just a bit chilly but hey that was ok because the sun made up for it. The children were out most of days exploring the grounds. I did not do that much exploring but I really did not mind. Coffee in the sun at a place like this, what more could you ask for (Mr Darcy in the little lake, yes I must admit that did cross my mind)!!!
So not a lot of activities booked (tons on offer and the Zip Wire looked soooooo cool), but we chilled and spent time together, inhaled a lot of food and drinks. For me this was a great break. Since the girls got so much attention I could sit back and just deal with them when I needed to do the proper mum bits (not that much) which is an ideal holiday. Of course we did not just stayed here for three days (I would really not had minded at all though).
Family friends came for a visit and the kids had so much fun, here chilling with a little FIKA break.
The sun came out and we enjoyed spending half a day in the garden, trusty grandparents had brought lots of garden activities items for us to play with. But it was lots of fun running up and rolling down the hills in the garden (ohh I really am not sure what you call the artificial steps they had created in the garden, but they were very fun to play on).
Some walked and some cycled around Loch an Eilein, stopped for a little picnic and threw pinecones in the river, very exciting for a two year old.
Before we headed back to Edinburgh we visited the Highland Wildlife Park and it was a really enjoyable experience. For Christmas we were given a family gift, a year membership at the Edinburgh Zoo and the wildlife park is included in the membership so an easy choice for us and we did enjoy it. But it was windy and girls were a bit grumpy (wait maybe that was me), even so it is nice to have done it and the Polar Bears were beautiful!!!
Next holiday for us is Sweden, not really a holiday for me since I am going home, just me and the girls for a couple of weeks and my family is NOT like Richard’s, not the I-take-the-kids-you-rest/enjoy-yourself kind of family. But it is a great opportunity for me to give the girls Swedish non-stop for four weeks and for me to spend time with my family and friends. I do know our Scottish family is looking to do the Enchanted Forest in the Autumn. which will be great fun and I do love Pitlochry so will enjoy a visit there to.
Anyway, of course I can recommend Alive, beautiful house, beautiful scenery, beautiful locations and tons of activities to do.
Well time to remind you all that this Saturday 6th June is the Swedish National Day. So on Saturday there will be a few offers on some very Swedish designs in the shop (YAY). If you like to know more about why and how to celebrate the Swedish National day, well why not visit Sweden.se for more info.
Myself, well I am heading to Hemma for a traditional Fika. Then I am looking forward to a visit to the Canongate Kirk for a Swedish Summer service and then for all the grown-ups there will be a Swedish National Day party at Hemma and yes Richard and I will both join since grandparents are in town to entertain their granddaughters. This is very rare for us, to be out for an evening and very rare that we both can enjoy a glass of something since normally at least one of us is driving. Bring on Saturday!!!
Since we open the shop Swedish KG Design has been a part of Spektakulär. I am pretty sure most of you do have the super silicone flower-, lace- or splat coasters as well as the happy Owl money banks.
Image by KG Design
However KG does so much more and we have had quite a lot of their designs in over the years which we all love and I have them everywhere in my own house. Happy colour bowls, doorstops, bottle stoppers, coasters, tea towels. But now they have introduced a new fellow and we are extremely happy with the response so far. Already had to reorder Robert and also took the opportunity to add a few new colours. Personally I love the yellow one but could not find a proper image, just have to pop in to the shop and have a look for your self :) All images are borrowed from KG Design!
Silicone money banks sure are a functional design, Stina is in to counting her money at the moment, just learned about it at nursery and she is saving up for something special. As all of you with kids know it is important to teach our children about money and she seem to enjoy the whole saving up idea. She earns a little money now and then and even if it is just pennies they mean the world to her and she like to recount all her money again (about 12.50 at the moment I believe) and this money bank is handy since the head comes off, easy to clean and also wont break if you drop it. I have a memory of my younger brother smashing all of ours. Walked downstairs to find all our beautiful (not really) big pigs in thousands of pieces. Most of these were christening gifts! Yay! Not really remember my mums reactions but since I kind of know my mum (and turned out to be just like her… arrgggghhhh), I assume she was not impressed!
As you know we have stocked the fantastic Moomins enamel mugs, jugs, pots and tumblers as well as the romantic glassware range Nostalgie (one of my personal favourites) for a while. However Finnish Muurla do so much more and we are delighted to introduce the Muurla Retro ranges in enamel. Too much choice for me so lets introduced a little by each range for you to find the perfect match.
Now, why enamel? What is the big deal about enamel, for me it is all about my childhood summers, camping trips, scouts, our summerhouse, summer rain and lots more.It is something about the noise that brings back memories, happy memories! Enamel is a traditional and nostalgic material. These products by Muurla consist by a carbon steel core and a double coating of enamel. The carbon steel core is the base of its durability and the enamel layer provides a hygienic and easy to clean surface. Good news is also that all enamel items can be used on any kind of stove (from induction to an open fire).
Muurla is very proud of their enamel products which we can tell. Lovely designs and stunning details creates a perfect finish. The happy retro designs adds joy to cooking and serving. And we are delighted, to unpack this delivery was pure happiness for me.
Yellow Leaves Mug and Tray,
Yellow Leaves, mugs, jug, tray and bowl
Love the Jug
Yellow and Black Leaves Tumblers
Onions Mugs and Jug
Blue Flower Mug, Pot and Jug
Lovely mugs
I have not decided yet which one of these lovely designs I enjoy the most, do I have too? Blue Flower, Onions, Yellow and Black Leaves…go on see if you can choose a favourite (impossible)!
Easter time, this year we took it a bit more easy when it comes to Easter designs in the shop. Focused more on colours and that happy Spring feeling. When I was home in Sweden I brought some feathers with me (yes yes I am sure they exists here too) but it is not the same. Ruth collected some branches from her garden (Thank you Ruth) and we created a happy colourful Spring window for you!
Colourful Feathers…
Happy cushions
Spring
Spring
Love these “Egg” lanterns
How to celebrate a Swedish Easter… Well lots of different way I guess, here is some info from Sweden.se, or have a look at this website Vastsverige.com, which was really good (why not take the opportunity to book a holiday in Sweden as well:)). I am trying to remember what we did as children during Easter and I have a few images in my mind. One of my dad going all red in his face trying to empty a fresh egg of in contents so we could colour the egg shell it self and hang in our birch branches (yes Christmas tree at Christmas and Birch branches at Easter). One memory of my dad cutting birch branches from, I am pretty sure not a place we were supposed to cut it from (remember the very swift walk back to the car) and also the big paper eggs full of sweets and us dressing up as small witches, Glad Påsk written in our foreheads and knocking on doors saying Glad Påsk holding up a empty kettle hoping for sweets. The photo is borrowed online and it is a very true picture how it looks like, or used to. Sadly this is a dying tradition being replaced by Halloween. And no one seem to give sweets anymore unless it its wrapped in paper (bacteria awareness gone crazy) and I hear kids seem to ask for money (!!!) and my mum said that it is also more popular to give a fruit…please NO! It was sweets we were after as kids. I even remember that feeling of extreme disappointment when someone gave me a fruit! And sadly I have told the girls grandma and auntie not too buy big chocolate eggs for the girls (oh dear, evil mum, yup that’s me). So sweets, dressing up, Spring and the food. Oh yes THE FOOD!!! Oh sign now I get all hungry and a little bit homesick. A Swedish Easter buffet a smorgasbord of tasty homemade food… Lax, eggs, Jansons temptation, herring (tons of flavours) paskmust (special drink) or schnapps for the grown-ups, the bread, meatballs and so much more… Here in the UK it is all about chocolate, Easter here is a proper Sweeties holiday. Not like Christmas, Valentines, Halloween or any other holiday. We still have sweets left over at home from last year. Maybe I am over reaction but seriously how much sweets does not the big supermarket sell this time of year…insane amounts! Like last year we will head to Aberdeen and to the girls grandparents. Which will be great. Paint some eggs that we can roll down some hill in some park (never remember which one). Lovisa’s 2nd Birthday is also coming up so we will have a little party for her as well while we are all gathered. I wish you all a lovely and relaxing holiday! Charlotte x
Yes I have been home, for a whole week…all by myself! And when I left to come back here I felt like I could easily stay for another week, month, year or forever even! Sadly a week in Sweden was maybe not the best. I mean I loved it so much I did not wanted to come back here at all. It hit me hard how much I miss Sweden and my family and my friends. I have a great family here in Scotland and great friends as well so am a bit mixed feelings. I guess it is life!
Unfortunately I did go home due to my beloved farmor (father’s mother) passing away. Even though it was excepted and I did kind of say good bye to her last summer I was hoping I would get one more summer with her. She was not well, so was almost 91 and she had decided it was time for her to go. So it was a journey home for me to join my family and say good bye and tell her we love her and hope she will finally meet up with farfar (father’s father) again. No I am not religious, I just have a little hope that they will be together again. My sister had arranged a massive flower arrangement from us grandchildren and she had written on the card, give farfar our love. That made me cry and warm to my heart. The two of them was a proper team and I do wish there is some kind of chance for them to meet up again.
My dad, Farmor, Stina and me in 2011
I decided to stay in Sweden for a week and spend time with my family and friends and to do a few business things as well. And yes I left the girls back in Scotland, but they were being so spoilt by Richard and their farmor and farfar so they did not really miss me at all! Hmmm, well I will missed them terribly and I did look forward to cuddles and snotty kisses and lots of stories when I got back. This time of year there are no direct flights between Gothenburg and Edinburgh so I did the Copenhagen detour, flights and then train. Instead of the direct train from the airport I took the Oresrund train across the bridge to Malmo and then the fast train to Gothenburg.
Gothenburg Train Station
Got 20 min at Malmo Station and yes a massive bag of Swedish sweets! Felt a bit sick to be honest. Pick n mix is massive in Sweden, this picture is from last year when we went to our local food shop and Stina started to jump just looking at all sweets. I hardly eat sweets in the UK, but happily gobble it down while home, and not just a little, but happily so much you even feel your teeth is protesting.
Having the freedom of being home without any children and not a lot booked in made me a bit restless, so I took long walks and also dragged mums dog with me. I love the forest but since I am a bookworm I have read too many crime novels so obviously I expect dead bodies everywhere and I have a terrible fear of snakes so avoid going out in the forest summertime, but after a few goes, I felt relaxed enough to just stop and listen to the birds and the wind in the high trees and just peace and quiet. You sometimes forget how much peace the nature can bring, sure is good for your soul (and guess what I did not come across any dead bodies, not even a bloody finger).
Also the opportunity to jump in a car and go wherever you like. Thank you mum for lending me your car. Went to my sister one evening and headed out to her summerhouse (almost every Swede has a summerhouse, I guess it is due to our long summer holidays and the urge to leave your every day routine and just go away and relax) and put up a few rolls of wallpaper. Not done it for a long time so that was good and nice chat too.
I even managed to view a house, a house I walk by almost every day when I am home, mum live across the field in that red house you see on this image. Location wise it was very handy and yes I was curious. And it is even more handy to have a step dad who is a joiner to come along for the viewing. Lovely house at a good price but sadly needed new roof and a new foundation so good bye affordable house. Shame, would have been great as a little summer house for us. Not a big house but perfect for a small family, instead of us spending a few very long weeks at my mums every summer (think we all get a little bit tired of each other).
Now back in the UK, I think Stina was more interested in the gifts I brought with me home than me (hmm). To sum up this journey, full of emotions, fresh air and family love. When the girls was in bed on Thursday night, Richard and I was sitting in the sofa chatting, and I feel asleep in the middle of a sentence. Now a week or so later I am starting to recover and sometimes a routine life is what you need to think clearly and logical again and feel less emotional. Am really delighted to be back at the shop. Do love our little shop and it looks so inviting at the moment.
I am extremely grateful for Zuzanna and Ruth. I can go away from the shop and not feel worried at all. I can even go away for a month and they will look after it which is fantastic and relaxing. Thank you ladies, the shop looks loved!!!
Welcome to Spektakulär 