{Hair inspiration: braids with flowers}

Beautiful and etheral hair styles. There is something tragic over these frail flowers twisted and turned into a rope of hair, and yet I find it heightens their beauty.

{Toi Toi} {Freepeople}



{Happy Easter}

Usually, I do not spend Easter because it alters into a recap-vacation in the vancancy of classes. I visit my Mom and my grandparents for nice lunches, but is the decorating and egg hunting thing, I always skip. That was a thing of my childhood experiences; blowing eggs and painting them with water colours.

But I must say that all of the sweet whimsical pictures of different ways to dye eggs and decorate with them over at Pinterest got me wishing I had time to try it. Alas, this year it is not to be, but I will show you guys some of the sweetest pictures in case you are in want of last-minute inspiration.

Happy Easter!

{all images via my Pinterest}

Flora from Royal Copenhagen

Oohh, it has been a little while since my last post here, sorry about that. I had actually meant to post during the weekend but had a small setback due to school as well as not feeling quite well. Luckily, that's over - the unwell part, school still lingers around, ready to jump at me when I am seconds to forget such thing ever existed. But hey, this semester and then my dissertation - done! I shouldn't complain, so I will just skip to the real point of this post.

Some time ago, I posted some scans from this year's catalogue from Royal Copenhagen and I mentioned a new addition to the lovely services but I was so cruel and didn't say anything more! How cruel indeed.. (please excuse my language, I have been reading way too much Dickens lately. It may be beginning to rub off!)

I LOVE this new service called Flora. It is like Flora Danica mega! But without the similar prize tag. And the very best part in my opinion?

One of the six designs is with DANDELIONS!

 Oh, how pretty it is! I hope they will create more designs so you can set the table with just different plates. And I really like the gold accents in this shoot. So cool up against the grey-green cloths and napkins.

 But seriously, how loud do you think I shrieked when I saw this? I can't decide whether I would go for just dandelions or all six designs.

Here are the rest of the designs:

 

Can you guys pick a favourite? If it wasn't for the dandelion design, I would not be able to, I think...

Last, some style shots, there's also a coffee and tea service in Flora, which is almost prettier if that's even possible.

Design: Anja Vang Kragh for Royal Copenhagen

{images are my own scans from the 2012 catalogue}



{Christmas inspired by Karen Blixen}

First of all, happy St. Lucia Day! One of my favourites days {I guess that is my Swedish heritage shining through} and if you are interested, I did a post on Lucia last year which you can see here.

Anyways, since I haven't had the chance to see a parade this year, I will show you a lookbook from Danish decor-brand Rosendahl Copenhagen. It is one of the great Danish brands of this sort, together with Georg Jensen, Holmegaard and Royal Copenhagen. At least in my opinion.

One of their greatest successes is the Christmas (and this year also Easter) line inspired by the great writer Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen).

I showed you one when I did a post on her, but now I will show you some more.

I hope you will like it as much as I do.

Rungstedlund covered in romantic snow.

 The text says, each purchase supports the running of the Karen Blixen Museum at Rungstedlund.

Her nephew tells that Karen Blixen always decorated her Christmas tree in white and silver with a single red ornament hidden somewhere, which would pay off a small cake for the child who found it.

How wonderful right? I can totally see the elegance and luxurious splendour of a white and silver decorated tree, and her little game with the children makes me have even more respect for her (if that's even possible!)

 Very pretty gift-wrapping! I wouldn't even dare to open the present if it looked like that...

 I really like the look of the silver ornaments together with the rough cloth and leather.

The candle holders inspired by her love for the nature. The garden at Rungstedlund is 'world-famous' in Denmark (yeah, we always try to be bigger than we are, ha!) for the flowers and one of the best florists in Denmark (he also does the royal flower arrangements - so he is that big!) arrange flowers from the garden around the rooms and suites during the year.

I love the simplicity and the romantic feel these ornaments have, and for once I think both the silver as well as the gilded versions are equally beautiful. Usually, I favour just one of them. But if I had to choose, I would go for the silver.. Can't help but dream of a white and silver decorated tree too.

Best,

The Dandelion Chronicles



Lazy summer

 I have been a little sleepy and drousy today (maybe because I woke up at half past three! Seriously why??) so when I was done with the chores for the day (very early indeed..) I conquered a place in the sun down in my apartment block's courtyard. It is filled with big red and pink roses at the moment, and earlier the magnolia tree and the cherry blossoms perfumed our little heaven, later replaced with lilacs and irises.

There is a playground as well, however, there don't seem to be that many children living here (I don't know for sure since I moved in here back in August) but it rather suits me well.. When I'm tired, I can be a bit of a child-hater, sorry to say it.. So naturally, I'm a tad worried about when I have children of my own how that will turn out.. I guess one just the best she can and try not to let tiredness or stress out on the littl-uns. 

I have a thing for bark. don't know why, but the details in texture and colours always get to me on a very profound level.

I have never wished to be a mermaid when I was a little girl, I always wanted to be a wood nymph, a Daphne, and live in trees. Naturally, my favourite characters in Lord of the Rings are the ents. I even hugged the tree which were the inspiration to Tolkien when I was in Oxford in 2005.

We were all supposed to that however, but I would probably had done it anyway if no one was watching.

 My mani of the moment. It was supposed to be all polka-dots but on the first finger I completely blew it and so made all ten different. It may show that I have yet to try with various tapes, this was just done with one of Depend's art brushes in white over Maybelline's Party Blue from their less expensive line. I really love the blue and two coats here. Over it all, I have some pink glitter with a little rhinestone effect. On the other hand, some of the little pink hearts that are in show, but photographing with my left hand is just not happening for me..

 The tree under which's crown (or lack of same) I spend a couple of hours half asleep and half reading Albert Camus' The Plage. I really like it; interesting characters and yet at the same time quite academic in a way. Hard to describe really. But I think when I have finished this one, I might check out some of his other works, any recommendations?

The weather here has been very inter-changeable, so all the big garden roses both thirst and drown.. However, I don't think garden roses have a long season or is it just me? But the smell is amazing.. Especially, after a light rainfall..

Anyways, hope you have a wonderful day and enjoy all the beauty around you. The decay can come so suddenly, as with these roses.

This day was also a little homage to the late Sylvia Plath. When I read some extracts from her diaries earlier this year, I was struck by a comment she makes: (my translation from the Danish translation, so don't know if this is exactly as she wrote it)

And I sit here without identity: faceless [...] Will I never get to rest in the sun again, lazy, golden and peacefully?

I always felt very connected to her due to some similar emotional experiences (actually to the point where it really scared me!) so I try to remember to this, soaking up the sun, being lazy, being at peace and being proud of who I have become. I don't want to make such a comment in my journal one day, so i'm taking her experiences to heart.

Do any of you have a writer or character in a book that you connect to? The other one I have is Anne from Anne of Green Gables. I got my interest in English literature because of her and the Anne-series is still the ones I have read the most times. And I do daydream as much as her..

Weekly Favourites week 20

Hi guys, happy Friday and here in denmark its a national holiday called Stor Bededag which means Great Prayer Day. This was created after the Reformation in order to gather all of the saints' holidays in one day only in stead of many. So we have a day longer weekend which is always nice, and the sun is shining so what more can you ask for? Well, possibly no papers or exams but I doubt the educational system would agree..

Anyways, here's my favourites from this week. Lots of goodies out there! What do you think?

Weekly favourites, Week 20 2011 by Maudline featuring a tiered skirt

I must say that I am particularly fond of the Stella McCartney dress and the new 'Taylor' Mulberry bag.

I like how all the items work together. Add a pair of jeans and a sweater and you have a whole wardrobe! Love.

Since I only have one set this week (it all worked so well together I had to put them in one!) I will share a little photos from this and that from the past week. I have tried two of the nail polishes that I bought and they look marvelous! and bought some pretty pretty pastel lilacs on the farmers market.. Fresh flowers really cheer me up when I'm down, and I did feel a little blue this week. I guess the stress of exams and class registration are taking it's hit on me right now. Therefore, the more need of surrounding yourself with pretty things and take a deep breath of sunshine and baby's laughter.. And hey, not even a month untill my summer holiday!!! Score!

 When I find a little time out from papers, I'm reading Søren Kierkegaard's 'Either-Or'.. Almost finished..

The nail polish is 'Lavender Love' from GOSH and I kid you not: ONE coat and I couldn't see a single chip in a week! I only took it off 'cause I started to feel bored with the colour. I like to change once or twice a week but I was so impressed with this that I wanted to see how long it lasted. But apparently longer than my patience! :)

The 'Yellow Bombay' from GOSH. Three coats and only slightly visible nail line. It seems slightly darker than Chanel's Mimosa (as far as I could see in the shops) and GOSH's has more apparent glitter and shimmer than Chanel's. However, a very fine substitute given the fact that this only cost a third of Chanel's prize! Actually, I don't know whether its a sub since it was in GOSH's F/W line BEFORE Chanel released Mimosa..

There you go, a little this and that from my little ivory tower..

Have a lovely weekend.