Book Review: Carl and Karin Larsson, Creators of the Swedish Style

    Not long ago I ordered the book Carl and Karin Larsson: Creators of the Swedish Style through Amazon from a used book source. I was so excited to find a book about one of my favorite artists, Carl Larsson, and his wife Karin and their epic collaboration of their famous house, Lilla Hyttnas in the village of Sundborn, Sweden.

   This book is so fascinating because not only is it a book about their home-- it is a book about their life together, their creations and art, and how the making of their home and their family took on a unique role in Larsson's artwork and the image of Swedish design. For Swedes, the art of Carl Larsson in many ways depicted the ideal home life and encouraged an appreciation for warmth and family friendly rooms.

   I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I ordered the book online, but I was very happy with the heft and depth of the volume! There are hundreds of full color high quality photos and reproductions of Larsson's prints. I loved seeing photos of the actual real-life rooms set beside Larsson's illustrations of the same space. As an artist, seeing this gave me a deep appreciation of how Larsson was able to convey the essence of the room in in his watercolors, and how easily he created stories and movement with the figures he painted within them-- usually his family.

  It was also good to read more about Karin and her contributions to the vision of the home and her own artistry. When Carl and Karin met, she was also a painter. As a modern woman, mother and artist, it does make me sad to read that, once they started having children, Karin's painting came to an end.
   But looking at her home, and reading about the joy she took in designing everything from clothes to furniture to textiles, I think it's safe to assume that Karin didn't 'give up art', but found different outlets for her artistic talents, and those outlets were deeply rooted in and inspired by motherhood.

   Without a doubt, this book left me with an even deeper appreciation for this unbelievably artistic duo and their biggest work of art-- their home. I love all the detail that they put into each room-- painting on the walls, rooms filled with handmade things, and creating beautiful and inviting spaces in which they raised their children and also inspired their nation.
   Even today, the richly folk art and bright style of the Larsson home and Carl Larsson's paintings inspire decorators and home owners around the world and can be categorized as it's own unique style.
   I would definitely recommend this beautiful book to all lovers of Larsson, Swedish style and folk style in general. Especially on a dark winter's day-- whether you're in the frozen north or just the chilly suburbs, this is a warm and cozy read!

~Heather

Music: First Aid Kit

Today I wanted to share with you one of my favorite singing duos-- the sisters Johanna and Klara Soderberg from Sweden, known as First Aid Kit. Their close melodies and folk style are just beautiful and mesmerizing and they've been compared to another one of my favorite bands-- Fleet Foxes. In fact, it was a cover of a Fleet Foxes song posted on the internet that first gave the sisters international attention:



  And while this is an amazing cover, their original music is just as beautiful and lovely-- and it's also in English. First Aid Kit's latest album, The Lion's Roar, is a folky feast of bittersweet songs, that are shockingly mature for such a young pair, but their voices make it feel true and honest.

This is my favorite song from the album, called "Emmylou" it is remarkably 'Americana' and country sounding-- even featuring mentions of American legends 'Emmylou', 'June', 'Johnny' and 'Graham.'

I highly suggest giving them a listen and I look forward to many more future albums from these girls~
~H

My Art: Norwegian Bride

   I thought I'd share with you all one of my latest Scandinavian paintings--- this piece is called "Norwegian Bride" and shows the traditional Norwegian wedding costume and crown in an old fashioned folk style. I'm pleased with now it turned out and went a bit crazy with the flowers, haha!

  You can read more about the piece and the tradition of Norwegian wedding crowns HERE at my art blog.

Hope you have a great weekend!
Heather

Vintage Norway

    I've been looking through the flickr commons at copyright free images of Norway and came upon these vintage beauties. What a majestic country! I'd love to see the fjords some day. Take a look at these amazing photos. You should be taken to the flickr source with more info by clicking on them:

 Which scene do you wish you could step into? I can almost hear all that rushing water. And aren't the sod roofs amazing? I've read that many scandinavian homes insulated their roofs with layers of sod and turf to keep cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They would plant gardens and even small trees on them. Now that's a great use of space!

Thanks for your visit!~
Heather

My own Dala....

I've started working on a series of Dala Horse designs-- come check it out on my art blog-- Audrey Eclectic!

A Swedish Epiphany

  Happy Epiphany, dear readers! Hope you're having a wonderful Sunday. I thought I'd share with you this beautiful Swedish tapestry depicting the nativity with the three wise men by Anders Eriksson, 1802. Thanks to Aputsiaq at Nordic Thoughts for the source!

Also--- we have a winner for our book giveaway! Congrats to Nancy, for your win! And thanks so much to our author, Linda K. Hubalek for being so generous!

Til next time,
~Heather

Obsession: Scandinavian Box Beds

   SOURCE

There is something just so interesting and a bit romantic about box beds, and Scandinavia has some of the most beautiful varieties. Built into the wall, sometimes with a curtained off entrance or even an entrance with doors, I have loved these unique style of beds since I was a kid.
    The concept behind the box bed is to preserve heat and add privacy. They often times also included storage of some sort either beneath the bed or along the wooden sides.
   In the years when most people shared sleeping space with the whole family, having a private box bed was probably very ideal. Especially in the frigid winters of northern landscapes-- I can just imagine how warm and cozy these beds must be all piled up with blankets and furs, the curtains drawn and a good book in hand.
   I've been gathering some images of some particularly beautiful box beds for that 'some day' house of my dreams. I thought I'd share them with you here-- what do you think? Are you a fan? Or would you feel claustrophobic? I just love how beautifully and ornately some of the beds are decorated. They are many times a work of art in of themselves!

SOURCE 

SOURCE 

 SOURCE

SOURCE

SOURCE

SOURCE