Karin's Style Blog

Daniel at Clio sent me Bon Appétit and Oprah Magazine cause they both have pictures of my work this month! The picture in Oprah is stunning and it’s on a whole page!

Thank you all for letting me know when you spot my work in magazines. The best thing with seeing my work in magazines is to get someone elses interpretation of it. Like the styling above for instance or even when it’s just a product shot, it’s cool to see the context it is put in.

I also love it when you let me know you’ve bought a piece somewhere. Like Lisa, who’s bought a candle holder at Edith & Edna. It’s just really wonderful to know they’re finding good homes!

We had so much fun in Budapest, I am so so tired and my suitcase smells of the pepper sausages I brought back… Here are some glimpses of the journey.

They had so many funny signs in Budapest - whatever does this one mean? That you’re not allowed to go hand in hand with someone on this street?

The Grand Market Food Hall.

Me with my felted scarf, after the first concert there was not much of a voice left so on the second concert I turned pages for our talented pianist Ekaterina.

The Parliament.

The House of Terror was amongst the most impressive museums I’ve visited. The atmosphere, the scenography, the details - it made such an impression and the room of the dead made me cry.

I didn’t visit the spa, but peaked in through the windows.

Some parts of Budapest reminded me of Paris.

I’m off to Budapest on a choir trip. We’re bringing melancoly swedish tunes and passionate pieces by Brahms to the Hungarians! I’m not sure how passionate my voice will sound though - am fighting off a cold with lots of food, ice cream and whiskey…

I’ve photographed my tools - see them over at whip up!

Fellow potter bloggers: Davistudio, Potteryblog and Strange fragments. Enjoy!

This weekend is the last chance to visit the Yellow House, here are my snapshots from three weeks ago. Ceramics by Jane Muir, paintings by Becky Blair and Hannah Cole.

No need for me to cut the lawn when I’ve got these absolutely adorable little helpers… The black one has got white stockings!
I did have to draw the line when they started chewing up my climbing rose though…

Things like this keeps me sane.

UPDATE: This is outside my workshop and the lambs live on the farm where that is situated. This year 70 lambs were born…

Isn’t this a beautiful necklace? Here comes the surprise: it’s the intestines of a pig, tightened around silver bands. By Catarina Hällzon.

I just find these jewellery pieces so incredibly inspiring! Not only the pieces themselves, but also the added effect of the shadows, the direct use of natural materials and the combinations of those with precious metals. By Elin Christensson.

At graphic design you could create your own heraldry. By Jiri Adamik-Novak.

I’m standing in front of the illustrations of little old ladies. By Mia Bergendal.

I was mighty impressed with illustrated story of Edie Sedgwick, by Graham Samuels. The whole book wasn’t quite finished yet, so he’d done the preparatory work for the last pages and included that which gave a nice insight to the process behind the drawings.

Ceramic tables outside the ceramics shop. I’m afraid I wasn’t all that impressed with the ceramic work in the show, perhaps I’m being too hard on my own material…

The coffee maker is by Santi Nagoyo and it’s called Norm.

I didn’t have time to go and see the art’s department so this was all from Konstfack this year!

Nancy of Loopy design design and produce a small collection of girls handmade clothing, some of which use recycled materials. The pictures are just so charming and if I could shrink myself, I’d wear this coat and these wrist warmers!

Some lovely links that i found through le vestiaire de jeanne:

Oona

Chigo

Tantetini

This is how I’d like my bike to retire. Here is Frida Ottemo Källström together with her theatre of old-bicycles-turned-furniture. This to me has a playfulness to it and I like that in design. I’d like to perch on one of Frida’s parkbenches or enjoy a quick espresso in her café. She also makes lamps of old spades.

Here’s another detail of Jenny Bergman’s textiles, that I mentioned yesterday. This is printed on beautifully monogrammed linen bed sheet. Jenny’s website has got some great details of her work and a glimps into her process.

I went to see the degree show at Konstfack (the University of Art and Design here in Stockholm) yesterday. As usual, textiles and jewellery managed to capture my heart and mind!

Incredibly inspiring jewellery by Catarina Hällzon.

Random and detailed textiles by Jenny Bergman.

This was just a little taster - more to follow later today! In the meantime, click on the pictures and let the students tell you about their work! (in swedish)

Right now, these sunny May days, it is heavenly to sit on the terrace outside the café at Överjärva Gård (where my workshop is) and drink a cup of coffee. The view is over the golf course with the apple trees (that used to be part of an orchard) and further away is Stockholm.

One of the things that intrigues me about Överjärva Gård is that it really is an old farm - being there feels like being in the country - and yet it is just 15 minutes away from the very centre of Stockholm. On one side, Överjärva is framed by the busiest part of motorway in the whole of Sweden and on the other are the trains running north. Together, they make a constant backdrop of noise. Due to some wonderful reason, my brain blocks this out and all I hear are the birds and the little lambs…

Here are some of my pieces against the fabulous wallpaper in one of the houses at Överjärva.

I was hooked by these links at Speak Up yesterday: the connection of Marian Bantjes to some fabulous moustaches and a link to polish design.

Port2Port is getting some great thoughts on design this week and I’ve printed out HobbyPrincess’ article on Design as Play, perhaps I shall read it in the sun with my coffee tomorrow?

“Art has a tremendous power to reveal, inspire and unite.”

This is a quote from The Nest Foundation and I think it holds so much truth.

The Nest Foundations purpose is to raise awareness of the commercial sexual exploitation of children around the world. One of their projects is a full length documentary film called Playground. To raise funds for the film they’re organizing for instance an auction in New York with work from various artists and this is where I fit in. I feel priviliged to be able to be a little part of this.

Artist Yoshitomo Nara is lending his work for the film and the foundation.

Hearing examples of and statistics on human rights violations gets me down and it makes me angry. Likewise, it makes me warm inside that there are so many people doing something about this - however small or big an effort, it all counts.

My friend Eva Grinder has made a book for an exhibition of artists’ books at Grafiska Sällskapet (the graphic society) here in Stockholm. The exhibition is open until May 24th.

I believe I could recognize Eva from only seeing a picture of her hands, this is such an Eva way of holding her hands - pointing with two fingers! Here’s another of the artists’ books in the exhibition, it’s by Linda Rönning:

Lars went to the private view and took these pictures, I love that he captured this tag by the entrance to the graphic society.

The impressive ceiling of the graphic society.

Moving away from typography… Abigail linked to the very inspiring jewellery by Bettina Speckner. Here is just one of Bettina Speckner’s brooches:

Designspotter posted about this pair of “Lockvogel” by Marieke Gast, one is for eating and one is for company. I wonder what the birds think of this idea?

You might want to listen to my incoherent ramblings at the d*s podcast today….

I just listened to Grace’s interview with Dave Alhadeff of The Future Perfect, it’s really interesting so fill up your ipods!

I’ve also completely forgot to mention my latest post on whip up, on potter’s markets!

And I thought Tickle my wickle was only a fabulous name for a company making cards… Boy, was I mistaken. They do the recycled envelopes, like in the picture above - with illustrations on how to make your own recycled envelope.

They do perfumes, candles and toiletries and they have a collection of various found things that are for sale. Curious and lovely mix (although the rhinocerous foot ashtray is very spooky).

At minky in the north laines, I found Peter Jensen’s clothes and instantly fell for them. Here are a few from the spring/summer collections ‘05 and ‘06.

It’s a good thing I have my little camera, or I might have very well emptied the beach in Brighton of its stones. I find the texture, shape and colour of stones so amazing. I want to have each one of them set in a silver band and made into rings so that I can wear them and adore them everyday. On a more ceramic note, they’re also a great inspiration for glazes…

I didn’t buy this top, but I was very tempted. It’s silk and the print was just so gorgeous… It’s from the spring/summer collection 06 (link to pdf) from designer Sarah Arnett, who runs the beautiful shop Simultané (and the staff was lovely too which added to the whole experience). Instead, I bought a stunning smokey quartz bracelet by Kirt Holmes…

That fitting room had a pretty lamp climbing up it’s wall. I know I’ve seen it somewhere, but can’t remember the name of the designer, let me know if you know and I’ll update.
UPDATE: It’s by Helena Christensen for habitat (thank’s dear reader!).

It was just such a pleasure having time to stroll around - in and out of shops, trying on a little something, having lunch with a glass of wine, reading a book… Here I’m sitting in Nia café and when I googled on them I found this Brighton gastronaut’s review. I actually did get decent service and the chicken salad with crispy bacon was not bad at all.

On the plane over to the UK, I read an article in which trend oracle Li Edelkoort says that restaurants is the new fashion, that’s where the trends are created. The article was illustrated by Stina Wirsén, a truly talented swedish illustrator and I find her work very inspiring.

That’s all for now, but there will be more Brighton to come this week. I’ll leave you with this flowershop on St James’ street call Planted. I love what they’ve done with the wood.

I’ve just had a coffe at the Redroaster on St Jame’s street, it’s got a wonderfully continental feel mixed with how I imagine Argentina in the 1930’s would be… Sitting there with my cafe latte, I expect a tango couple to make a dramatic entrance any time…

I can’t tell you how I’ve enjoyed my time here in Brighton; I’ve indulged in the pleasure of walking on the beach, having lunch with my book and a glass of wine, finding favourite shops scattered about Brighton (I’ll tell you all about them when I get home) and going early to bed falling a sleep while hearing the birds screetching and people’s voices trailing in through my window at the top of the hotel…

My camera is crammed full of pictures from Brighton and from setting up the show on Thursday, wanting to buy a piece of everyone’s beautiful work. Today is my last day here and I’m off to enjoy it. But first, I bought the latest issue of Crafts magazine and although I haven’t explored it thouroughly yet, I spotted inspiring jewellery by Sebastian Buescher, machine- and handstitched illustrations by Claire Heathcote (no website, but here’s a post from Layers of Meaning) and am in the middle of an article titled “Hands on Approach” by design critic Louise Schouwenberg (google her and you’ll find all sorts of interesting information, for instance she’s written a book with and about Hella Jongerius) on dutch designers mix of conceptual design and traditional craft techniques. I think you too might find it interesting. See you on Tuesday!

I’m off to Brighton tomorrow, business intertwined with vacation.

Every year in May a growing number of houses and artist studios in Brighton open up for Artists’ Open Houses which is part of the Brighton Festival. This year 170 houses are taking part and I’m in the Yellow House.

The Yellow House is the home of Jehane, Alex and Lucas who generously opens up their house for artists to show their work and visitors to come and view and buy. I’m taking up recidense in the kitchen and will probably spill out with a mobile or two into the garden, in the good company of Kathy Laird. I’ve brought a bit of everything - vases, bowls, tealight holders, beakers…

Amongst the other artists taking part this year is Jane Muir, whose little ceramic men I simply adore.

Beautiful paintings by Becky Blair (above) and Hannah Cole (below).

More ceramics by Sylph Baier and jewellery by Nicola Becci. And last, but not least, Jehane’s exquisitely embroidered silk cushions and other textiles.

There will be something for everyone! But the best thing is The Yellow House, it’s every bit as welcoming and lovely as it looks in the picture above. If the weather allows it, perhaps Alex will bring his guitar out and we will all sit around the garden singing and sipping Pimm’s…

Check out the opening weekends and hours for the Yellow House. I’ll be there for the first weekend only, but my ceramics will stay on. No 5, cuthbert road, queen’s park - say hi if you come visit this weekend!
And if you can’t make it, you can always buy these artists work and many more from the Yellow House website.