Karin's Style Blog

It really is pretty here at Överjärva, the sun is shining through a crack in the dark clouds and thousands of raindrops are glittering in the grass. And in the background is the constant sound from the motorway - it’s not visible but always there and I’m not saying that to ruin the wonderful image above. I actually think it’s kind of an exiting clash.

Lovely Julia dress from Cecile Belmont that I found through Shari’s blog.

This Marni coat from Browns is my kind of coat.

A Butterfly Egg Stand from Polly George, designer of exquisite and witty ceramics.

I thought this was quite funny, no offence!

I’ve been trying this ring on in last night’s dreams, I guess my brain was digesting all the info I put into it yesterday… I found the ring via Felipov.

Origin is coming closer and I’m deciding on how to furnish my tiny stand, it’s tricky to do it from another country so I will opt for a very simple solution. Probably something clever from IKEA. I was browsing through the exhibitors yesterday and found so much that I’m looking forward to seeing in person.

Millinary by Karen Henriksen - the ’silk satin cap with curled feather fringe’ from the modern bride collection (it’s not the hat on the picture, that’s called something as fabulous). Just the name is beautiful, I almost can’t stop saying it. And what about ‘velour felt windswept cap with contrast edge’ from autum/winter 05-06? Karen Henriksen is exhibiting in week one.

The charcoal head broach is made by Lynne Murray, who will be exhibiting in week two.
Don’t miss her illustrations, they’re lovely.

I’ve got a new post on whip up, it’s about potter bloggers. Talking about whip up - I love the new US postal stamps Weeks posted about the other day?

I’ve had the workshop doors wide open and all week the rain has been pouring down like a curtain outside, while the radio has been playing opera arias and the web has taken me for a ride - it’s sweet!

It brought me from Emma’s blog to orange lola where I found the wonderful lucky fish cushions which lead on to nonchalantmom with whom orange lola has opened up a bricks and mortar shop in Wakefield.

I liked the insides of this prefabricated sustainable home at inhabit, who also found the beautiful rain chandelier from Australian designer Ilan El.

swedesres showed the way to Isa form, from where you can buy customized illustrations for children and others.

In the latest issue of Lantliv the fashion spread is photographed here at Överjärva Gård (where my workshop is). It’s a country romantic mix of frilly skirts and Wellingtons and thrown in are a couple of my cups and vases!

I’ve uploaded the whole spread on flickr.

Life took over and it was lots of great free events during the Stockholm Cultural festival last week. Here’s a fire juggler from Carmina Burana, quite a magical night and I’d never heard Carmina Burana before.

It’s also been Stockholm fashion week and I’ve loved seeing Stina Wirsén’s illustrations (click on the links under “Bildspel” in the middle of the second column) in Dagens Nyheter. Dagmar and Dada’s Diamonds have shown their collections.

Polly’s Shadow from Dada’s Diamonds’ latest collection.

Nivå 125 is yet another beautifully positioned gallery on the outskirts of Båstad. The road goes up up and once there you’ve got the most gorgeous view out over the Laholm bay.

I fell in love with Torsten Renqvist’s stone elephant who was positioned by the entrance. This little elephant is no 30 in a limited series of 35 made in 1984 for Konstfrämjandet. I haven’t yet found a good site about Torsten Renqvist, but here’s a link that shows two wonderful bird sculptures that he’s made.

Until August 31st the gallery is showing ceramics by Signe Persson Melin. I named my Signe beakers after her (and after a rose), I think her work is so full of life. It’s tactile and strong and beautiful.

The birdbath was wonderfully displayed with the green vine leading the eyes upwards. The birdbath is for sale from Melindesign.

The shop at Nivå had a very inspiring book about Per Benjamin’s flower art. Here’s an example:

We also squeezed in a visit to Design House Stockholm’s outlet where I bought an ever so soft “Pleece". The outlet was situated in a warehouse normally used for storing potatoes, which explains the lovely display.

Bissa and Anders Segerson run the wonderful Hovs Hallar Gallery on Hovs Hallars väg 65, Båstad. Bissa doesn’t have a website (yet), but she’s represented by Blås & Knåda and Konsthantverkarna in Stockholm.

The gallery shows Bissa’s ceramics and Anders’ paintings as well as glass and ceramics by many other artists. When we came to visit, they were exhibiting ceramics by Kenneth Williamsson (no website!!), whose work I find very inspiring.

More beauty scattered around the Hovs Hallar Gallery…

Next door to Bissa and Anders, was the fleamarket at Hov and these girls are getting a good overview. We came too late for the real bargains, but not too late to get a photo of this cracked old plate and the moped that could have been mine…

More pics here.

This road leads past Charlotte Hedberg’s atelier in Hallavara on Bjärehalvön.

Bjäre is an area in the south of Sweden with winding roads taking you up and down through a beautiful landscape. At vegetable stands by the roadside you take what you want and put money in a little box, the shell at the fishmongers brings the sound from the ocean, the wind blows right through you at the dramatic coastline of Hovs Hallar.

Of course an area like this draws artists to it like a magnet and many of them open up their studios to visitors. One of them is Charlotte Hedberg, a jeweller and painter in an atelier with a view.

Being welcomed into an artist’s studio is a treasure and a great way of getting more knowledge of the process behind a handmade object. And, don’t you agree, it makes such a difference buying an object when you’ve met the person who’s made it.

See more pictures from Charlotte’s studio and Bjäre.

It’s brave to be as simple as Susan Snyder has been with these earrings. Here’s a more elaborate pair, but as beautiful.

Via Susan’s links I found an interview with jewellerer Betty Cooke, who makes some stunning pieces.

I’ve just come back after a few inspiring days in the south of Sweden where I visited for instance a jeweller’s studio, I’ll tell you all about that tomorrow but here’s a preview.

I often get questions about what inspires me and it’s easy to say that it can be anything really, but it’s hard to put your finger on exactly what and why. It might be a combination of lines and shapes and colours - like in the above photo. Or the light yellow colour of the roses below. Or the mystery created by the water and the lilies in the pond (below).

I’ve just been to visit Wij Gardens, the vision of gardener Lars Krantz in joint effort with many others, not least the people of Ockelbo where Wij is situated. It was a very inspiring trip and I came back with a loaded camera. Many of the pictures can be viewed on Flickr and I’ve put titles on them that might explain what inspired me to take that photo.

Landscape architect Ulf Nordfjell has created natural rooms, all with a different feel.

The entrance to the rose garden, created by Simon Irvine, was decorated with this wonderful wall sculpture (I’m afraid I’m not really sure who’s the artist…).

Me and my little rental car are southbound tonight and will be back to business as usual on Monday. I’ll leave you with these photos and hope y’all will have a beautiful weekend!

Ok, Karin’s style blog is on vacation and has temporarily turned into a tourist brochure. I’m not keeping up with anything other than soaking up this beautiful summer and filling myself to the rim with inspiration.

This past weekend I went kayaking in the archipelago. We stayed the night at Fejans youth hostel (the yellow building in the background) and spent a wonderful Saturday evening at Fejans tavern.

I’ve always been fascinated with the under water world, small organisms like plankton are quite beautiful.

This weekend though, I enjoyed the views above water from my kayak indulging in the shapes, textures and colours of warm cliffs and endless water surfaces. The sound of the paddle against water and the closeness to nature when paddling in between small islands where the water barely covered the shallow cliffs. Heavenly.

Thank you for all the encouaraging comments on my necklace! This is how happy they made me - smiling all the way to the horizon and back.

On Monday and Tuesday I went with my parents to Wij gardens and to some of the historical industrial villages in Uppland, I think I’ll save that story for later.