Scandinavian Design is invading Scotland…

On By SpektakulärIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Oh always so nice to be in the Scotsman, this Saturday Janet Christie wrote an article about Scandinavian Style and how it is invading Scotland. Well I am doing my best :)  The knitted jumper from “The Killing” that is sooo popular, well we do have the perfect gift to go with the jumper, the Nordic Wool thermo mugs in four lovely designs. These are on my Christmas list and I have given the hint to Richard.

Image by MENU

This week we are expecting delivery after delivery and I have absolutely no idea where to put all the stock. But we have booked in an late evening with all of us girls in the shop (Richard and Stina just have to stay out of the way), so I think the shop will look great and be ready for Christmas this week.

Don’t forget to come and see us at Edinburgh Academy Christmas Fair if you are in the area. Unfortunately I have to mention that we don’t have a card machine with us to the fair so bring cash or visit us here at the shop. Emma will be here all weekend to give you a hand with gift decisions. Oh have just been informed that there are a few tickets left for the Friday evening event and no you do not have to have children at the Academy, you are very welcome to buy tickets, just contact Jane on n 07545054470 or email  Janebredin@btinternet.com.

Have a great week and we are all looking forward seeing you.

Charlotte x

Funky reflectors

On By SpektakulärIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

I got a bit of a reminder of the long dark evenings ahead the other day when I closed the shop. That hour sure makes a difference, it gets dark early, too early! And whilst walking to the car and then driving to collect Stina at nursery I noticed how many people were out walking, and sadly not many were wearing any kind of reflector. It is dark and lets face it most of us were dark clothing, jeans, suits, school uniforms and dark jackets , it is hard to see while you are driving, especially if it is a bit of rain in the air.

We are so happy and thrilled to introduce Glimmis. Reflectors in lots of different designs, from funky dinosaurs, seasonal snowflakes, elegant lilies, pretty hearts to the lovely character Moomin or his friend Little My?! On their website you can do a test on how visual you are in the dark with and without reflectors or you can find your own favourite.

Growing up in Sweden I was taught early how important it is to be seen in the dark, it does not matter if you live on the country side or in the city. Must admit I thought it was a bit silly but as soon as I got my own drivers licence and almost hit a man walking on a main road late one evening in dark clothing, I decided to always were some kind of reflector, as my dad would say “it sure is a cheap life insurance”.

I know now these days while my mum is out walking the dog at night she wears a reflector vest and the leash has reflectors in it as well as the dog collar, I think the collar might even have flashing lights!

Please remember: Stay safe, be smart, be seen!!!

Charlotte x

November

On By SpektakulärIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Halloween and Fireworks Night have passed and you will now starting to see more and more shops changing their displays getting ready for Christmas and yes we are one of them.  We are starting slow with lovely designs by Sagaform, mulled wine sets, serving bowls (stars, hearts and Christmas trees), tealight holders and lots more. By midweek next week Cult Design is arriving with small Santas for their Change candle holders. And of course some lovely ornaments from Broste Copenhagen. Darling Clemementine’s lovely Christmas cards are now in the shop.

But of course we are not only filling up the shop with Christmas designs, we are also getting more lovely new gift ideas in every week, we have everything from stockingfillers to the perfect gift to someone special. Or if you just can’t wait to give your home a bit of that Christmas feeling.

November is a busy month for us which is lovely, if you are visiting Edinburgh Academy’s Big Christmas Fair, well pop by and say hi! Or if you are in Glasgow, we will be at Calderwood Primary again and we are really looking forward to these fairs. It is an exciting way to meet new people and spread the word about the shop.

Have a lovely week

Charlotte x

Halloween

On By SpektakulärIn Upcoming eventsLeave a comment

Well Halloween is not a Swedish tradition, but during the years it has started to become a more common sight in the shops and I know my nephew who is seven has a Halloween party. Traditions do change, but what we Swedes do at Halloween or the weekend during 31st of October – 6st of November, is the time when we remember our loved ones and we go to the graveyards and light up candles and it is a  spectacular sight when you walk or drive by at night and you see the graveyards all gloomy and it looks so beautiful.  We call it “Alla Helgons Dag” guess it would translate to All Saints Day. I must admit I am not that sure what the real meaning of the name is…

Image by Kjell Isberg

But since Halloween is getting closer I have managed to get a few lovely new taper candles by Ester & Erik. In black and orange of course! We have a few ghost sponges left as well as skull napkins and teatowels. And of course if you are off for a house party at Halloween I do have gifts and lots of them.

Have a lovely weekend

Charlotte x

Surprises and Birthdays

On By SpektakulärIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

It has been a very busy time for us lately and I am still trying to catch up. On last Wednesday when I came home from the shop, a little later that I had hoped, I was a bit tired and grumpy, walked in to our livingroom to turn the lights on and five people jumped out. I almost fainted. Four brothers and sisters (Clairy, Cecilia, Christer and Caj, all of us with C names) and my younger sister’s boyfriend David. I could not work out why there were people in my home screaming at me and yet not them, my younger brother Caj have never flown before and I could not work out why they were there at all and how they got there or what was going on. Well it was supposed to be a surprise in June when I had my birthday but they could not get it organized and then on Friday the 14th, the same day as Stina’s Birthday is my sister Cecilia’s Birthday. So it was a surprise for her as well. They had all just knocked on her door in Gothenburg on Wednesday morning packed her in the car and taken her to the airport. Richard (who knew of course) took time off work so I spent a day in town with my family and then they left really early on Friday morning. It was so nice to see them and I guess these kind of surprises are what we all need now and then…just not too often!

Caj, Christer, Clairy, me (Charlotte) and Cecilia

Stina’s Birthday, well we spend it baking and tiding up after my family members and then Richard’s parents came down from Aberdeen and on Saturday we had a little party for Stina. Saturday night – we all slept really well!

Stina 1 year...High five
Swedish cream birthday cakes

So now we are trying to get back to normality. I have moved things around in the shop, made more space for all the new deliveries that will arrive in the next coming weeks. But at the moment the shop is looking vibrant and colourful and I love it. But before we will turn the shop in to Christmas, lets not forget that we have a Autumn with lovely colours.

Next week is Halloween, not a very Swedish tradition, however I do have lovely taper candles in black and orange, a few ghost sponges left and some skull napkins and skull teatowels.

I have decided to wait until 1st of November before you see Christmas cards, mulled wine sets or any other kind of Christmas designs in the shop, even if the supermarkets have been selling mince pies since August! There are of course already plenty of Christmas gifts but just not any Santas… I am quite excited, do enjoy seeing the changes in the shop.

Looking forward seeing you

Charlotte x

Pappelinas’ big cosy blankets

On By SpektakulärIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

I have had a lot of interest about the Pappelina blankets we stock, and yes we have a few left of the huge (150×200 cm) Lilo blankets, in Azure blue and in Olive green with large white flowers. They are made in cotton and dralon which gives them a fantastic soft touch.

We love them here, they are just perfect for a rainy cold day like this one. Stay warm and snuggle up.

Charlotte x

Time to get a bit cosy…

On By SpektakulärIn Latest deliveries, New window display, Shop imagesLeave a comment

Oh I don’t know about you, but I did not enjoy yesterday’s weather at all, felt frozen through by the time we made it home! But it is days like those when I really enjoy some me time in the evening with a cup of tea snuggled up in the sofa under a warm blanket. And best of all: candles, candles, candles…love it! Autumn is here and it sure is time to get cosy. And we have lots of lovely new designs in the shop just for this time of year. New candle holders from Broste Copenhagen and Sagaform as well as lovely new oven and serving dishes for the warm stews and warm desserts.

Have a lovely evening and see you soon

Charlotte x

Happy Birthday Stina!!!

On By SpektakulärIn Upcoming eventsLeave a comment

Grattis på födelsedagen Stina!

Our gorgeous daughter is one year today Friday! Wow I think this must have been the fastest year of my life, it sure has been an amazing year!

We  have taken some time off from the shop this weekend, but fear not! Emma is in the shop every day this weekend  and will look after you! And don’t miss out on this weekend’s celebration offer at the shop, 10 % off on Stina’s favourites! All Teddykompaniets animal slippers, they are soooo cute and funky and all of course Färg & Forms lovely soft children’s blankets in 100% cotton!

Have a lovely weekend

Richard, Charlotte & Stina

New designs from Sagaform this Autumn

On By SpektakulärIn NewsLeave a comment

One of our most popular brands is Sagaform, perfect for gifts.

“Sagaform stands for joyful, innovative gifts for the kitchen and the set table. Indoors and outdoors. Joyful gifts for friends or family, or to spoil yourself with”.

This week we are expecting in some of the new Autumn designs, such as more of the lovely Season range.  We already do the lovely oven dishes that have been a great gift for weddings, birthdays or as some of you say, just can resist a little treat. We have added in serving bowls, ramekins and a lovely jug! As well as a wonderful new range called Spectra, colourful wineglasses, tumbles and carafes. I think these will be a new favourite with many of you. And not to forget, if you are in our shop now and then, well then you know how much we love candles and candle holders, and it is perfect this time a year,when it is dark and wet to get cosy, stay indoors and just light up some candles, so we have introduces a lovely tealight holder, Tubelight. Comes in three different colours, purple, green and blue.

And soon Sagaforms Christmas range with mulled wine sets, tealight holders, schnapps carafes and not to forget the popular Squirrel bowl that was a massive hit last year and that lots of you already asked for…soon soon it will be back in!

Have a great weekend and don’t forget to come in and say hi if you are in the area, we have lots of new things in the shop:)

Charlotte x

Lights in Alingsås

On By SpektakulärIn InspirationLeave a comment

Alingsås is my hometown in Sweden, a small town about 40 min drive north east of Gothenburg. It is a lovely village, it is often called the café village, it is a cosy town where the centre of town is all built in wooden houses with cobble streets. For eleven years now the town lights up during October. Lightning designers and students from across the world gather in Alingsås and create wonderful illuminations. This is the largest arrangement of experimental lighting design of public places in Europe.

I remember the first year and how amazed I was and how happy it made me feel whilst walking around in the evenings admiring the buildings and objects that were transformed. Autumn is very dark in Sweden, well here in Scotland as well, but when you are starting to feel a bit gloomy this event is something that is really cheers you up.  I am pleased that this event has kept growing and I really recommend to visit Lights in Alingsås during October each year, and every year it changes with new designers lighting up different parts of the town.

These lovely images are just a few, please check out the Lights in Alingsås website for lots of fantastic images and inspiration during a dark Autumn day.

Charlotte x