Tagged: Sweden

Mouse House x

Joy can come in very small packages.

The idea of little shops for mice was first started by Anonymouse – a Swedish Artists collective whose first piece of mouse street art was a restaurant in Malmo. The idea has since been taken up by others across the world. Built with dedication, skill, time and humour they exist for the pure wonder and escapism their existence produces; a little bit of imagination made real.

(All pics Pinterest and Anonymouse)

It’s enough to make you smile.

Laters, Kate x

Design Classic x

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Camilla Lundsten is a former designer for Ikea who then published a highly successful series of childrens books’ based around a little red elephant called Littlephant.

 

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Demands from friends and family persuaded her to launch of her own homeware/toybrand…and the making of this drool house and  future design classic.

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Her philosophy presses many happy polka dot buttons: ‘To simplify everyday life with long-lasting objects that are practical and as eco-friendly as possible’.

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Combine that with the alchemy of faultless design, iconic textiles, hours of play, rampant imagination and the urge to make more yourself just to add to the ongoing joy…and it’s product made in heaven.

 

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(All pics from Littlephant.com)

Bella doesn’t get a look in. I want.

Laters, Kate x

The Wear-Anywhere-Coat x

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Taste is shaped by an assortment of interconnected influences one of which has to be nostalgia and that warm, inner glow of special memories. Which was the burning catalyst that drove Alexander Stutterheim  to design his first rain coat: He wanted to capture the essence of his Grandfather, an incredible man who not only managed a big theatre in Stockholm and wrote poetry in his spare time, but who would go to sea, defying the worst weather conditions mother nature could throw at him to catch fish (or life, as he said).  When Alexander found one of his Grandfather’s old fishing coats in a out-building he was compelled to resurrect it as a personal homage to his memory.

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Rainwear as an individual concept has long been swallowed up by giants of sportswear with most of the production now based at big factories far away.  But that’s not what Alexander wanted, instead he took his prototype to the last standing textile factory in Sweden in the small town of Boras to Johan Kall, the manager and his seamstresses for their skill, craftsmanship and individual attention to detail.

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The coats are a fabulous design – discreet, classic timeless cuts, the seams are all taped and sealed and each coat is signed and numbered by the seamstress who made it as a mark of honour and integrity.

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They are coats to wear in the country, in stormy weather, at sea..or even in the City.  And still be well dressed. Coats that are made to live and last a lifetime.

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The hardest decision is choosing what colour..

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It’s the husbands birthday coming up and I think it could be the perfect present: Made to stand both the test of time and weather all storms with passion, authenticity and love.  Sometimes it’s not just about what you want to wear but also who you want to be.

And sometimes something comes along that ticks all the boxes. Just like him really.

Laters, Kate x