Scandinavian design.. how do I live without thee?

Gosh, I have alot of inspiration and fun finds to share! I thought about dividing it up into a couple posts, but let's just throw it all into one. :-)

First I wanted to show you some fun funghi photos (wow, say that 20 times fast)... Yesterday, as I was driving to and from, to and from, (moms, don't you feel that way? every day it's like, pick up, take them there, pick them up, take them here... I feel like a chauffeur to my kids. ;-)... I kept passing by this house with a huge patch of HUMONGOUS mushrooms. You'd think with all of the rain we've been getting that they'd be everywhere!

But no, this ONE house seemed to have won the mushroom lottery....

SO! of course I had to take some photos! So, I meeeeeekly, walked up to their door to knock and see if they'd allow me to take some photos. Luckily they were not home as this dwelling did not seem very friendly to strangers... it just had that vibe, ya know?

Not to mention the "go away" sticker on their back door.

But that is neither here nor there...

I decided that for the love of all mushroom photos, that I just HAD to trespass and get these photos. And trespass I did. :-) I'm sure it was quite the site, me scrambling to get the photos before anyone came home. (I was half expecting someone to throw the back door open with rifle in hand....)

But I pushed forward, and after about 132 mosquito bites, a few digital photos, and a couple Fuji Instax mini photos later, I was gone. Poof.

And they weren't any the wiser that I was there. :-)

So anyway, short story long, here are the photos.

And a Fuji Instax min photo... and yes, that's me still wearing flipflops... Fall where art thou? Oh yeh, i live in Georgia. (and don't laugh at my unpainted toes.)

Yes, those mushrooms were THAT big!

Ok, onto less funghilicious topics...

I love Scandinavian Design. I'm so in love with it. I want to marry it. :-) Who doesn't love Scandinavian design? I mean seriously.

I love the colors and patterns they use... I just love everything about it. I love the boldness of their design, but it's sophisticated at the same time.

I really want to visit Scandinavia SOON. Japan isn't going to work out for us next year b/c we couldn't get one of our tickets with miles (boo) but we hadn't planned on going til 2011 anyway.. so I'm not too sad... We will probably end up going somewhere in the States for our child-less vacation next year, because going to mainland Europe or Scandinavia is going to be a bit too expensive as well... The problem is that the only time we can go is in the Summer.. but LUCKILY my mom is retiring (hopefully) in a couple years, so BOTH of my parents will be available to keep the boys during non-summer months.. that means cheaper airfare!! YAY!

Here are some amazing Scandinavian brands that I just love. Some that I've been a fan of for a while now, some I just stumbled upon!

Smafolk at Ittikid.com. I've bought several shirts from here for the boys. It's SO hard to find vibrant, colored clothing for boys with cool patterns. Smafolk came to the rescue for me. They are designed in Denmark.. they also have other brands in this store designed in Sweden. They are a bit pricey, but I rarely splurge on clothing for the boys.. it's usually Target and WalMart. So when i find things that are super cool, i go for it. You don't have much time to dress boys in clothes like these, so you have to do it while you can! :-) They have some new fall designs... this one is probably too girly, but i love it. LOVE the colors!

I stumbled onto these next two shops at Decor8 this week... so if you've seen them already, I apologize...

This artist, Ingrid, is actually from the Netherlands, which of course isn't part of Scandinavia, but I think there are certain design elements that ring true for all of these areas... Her work is very colorful and I think goes nicely with the theme of Scandinavian design.

Of course, I'm just in love with her crocheted designs.. aren't these stools to die for?

And I LOVE these granny square garlands.. i never ever have thought of making granny squares into a garland! Love that idea. Wouldn't it be fun to use some Autumn colors and make a garland celebrating the coming season? (which would help people like me that don't see an ounce of Fall in sight?)

I also really loved this photo from her Flickr, how she displayed these items is SO CUTE.

Here's Ingrid's website as well to check out.

Next is an amazing store, Lutterlagkage in Sweden, also featured on Decor8 this week... I just totally fell in love with the designs in this store!! Especially the vintage wallpaper on the walls. Be still my heart.

And most of all I fell in love with these vintage wallpaper wall decals. I'm thinking I might need this tree for my birthday.. or Christmas? You could totally do this yourself with vintage wallpaper, but isn't it nice to have the work done for you? :-) Unfortunately the site hasn't been completely translated into English, but you can click around the site to see everything...

The wallpaper also reminded me of this AMAZING wall in Jenny Ryan's new store, Home Ec, in Los Angeles that just opened! How I wish I could go! Here were her progress photos as she was creating it...

I have more inspiration to share, but this post is getting too long. :-)

Before I go, I wanted to say "hi!" to anyone coming here from Decor8! Holly featured a little home tour of my home yesterday.. needless to say I was so thrilled and it was fun answering a few questions that she asked about my inspirations and more. Thank-you Holly! :-) And thank you for the nice comments about the room makeover in my last post!

Comments

[Leslie]

That wallpaper tree was the inspiration for the tree I painted in my daughter's room this summer! Instead of using wallpaper for the trunk, I painted it. And then I got a discard wallpaper book from the local paint store which happened to match the color scheme of the bedding perfectly, and cut leaves from it. The total cost of my tree was only $4! Can't beat that. You can see it on my blog! http://littlescrapper.com/blog/?p=353

I love Scandinavian design, too. Of course, it matches absolutely NOTHING in my 70's ranch . . . but it inspires me nonetheless!

[Lu]

You are such an enabler!!! I was planning to crochet this weekend and those stool covers...love! I freakin' love it all.

[Jessie]

I've coveted those wall decals for a long time now... you can also find them here: (in English) http://www.enfantterribleshop.com/product.php?productid=16183&cat=295&page=1

Also, such a lovely article on Decor8!

[Christina R]

LOVE LOVE LOVE the granny banner.

And just so you know, I say "Be still my heart!" all the time thanks to you. :)

[Susan]

Your posts are never too long! The longer the better :)
I had to agree with the chauffer to the children. Especially since school has started I feel like I live in the car.....it's no wonder my 15 month old isn't walking yet, he's always driving around with me to pick up his sisters :)
The mushroom pictures are the most gorgeous pieces of art. I heart trespassing and getting fantastic pictures! Those are the ones that make me the most happy because if you don't do it eventually you drive by one day and the place has been razed or the mushrooms have finally be mowed etc.
I am learning to always take the picture! Even if there is a "go away" sticker on the back door ;)
And great, now I need to go and spend some money at Ittakid!!

[Janni]

...oh by the way, you should come...and visit Denmark I mean!

[Janni]

My first post disapeared...so here i go again.

If you love danish childrens clothes, you should take at look at these brands

http://www.katvig.dk/
http://www.ejsikkelej.dk/english.html
http://www.molo-kids.com/

My favorite danish childrens design item is the Juno bed (http://cre8ivelife.blogspot.com/2009/07/here-is-new-wallpaper.html) The stopped production in 72, and an original easily sells at 600$ or more. Actually they started producing a similar bed a couple of years ago, but nothing beats that vintage feel of chipped paint. (the wallpaper is also danish design - Ferm Living)

Did you guess that I'm danish?

Janni

Janni

[liz kartchner]

love those mushrooms! and love what you went through to get a shot of them. :)

those shirts belong on your boys!!!

[Chelsea Ann]

okay! I JUST have to remember to come back and read this post. But my hubby is getting grumpy about me not coming to bed... but I wanted to let you know that I shared a little about your recent designs and also added a special little note... blah I can't get the words out. So this will have to do. Pleas stop by! Hugs!!!!!! Chelsea Ann

[Danette]

Love the stools.
Love the mushrooms.
Love "Home Ec".
Love the blog.
I'll be baaaaaack.

[Marie in Singapore]

How talented you are! I love your photography style, your blog, your shop... everything! wish you could take some pics of my daughter and our little family...

[Sana]

more funghilicious please! those little guys have been popping up here and there over our lawn with all of the rain we've had in atlanta lately.

the romantic haze on those photos are lovely! found your blog through thte storque and adore it!

x
sana@wristielove

[Jessica Poundstone]

Good grief - that's a lot of awesome!!! Thanks for sharing it all!