{Frail Nature}

Hi guys, long at last! Truth be told, I had my final oral exam last Tuesday and it went beyond expectations, so I am very happy.. Nevertheless, I could feel the strain the stress had taken on me and thus was in much need of place, space, and quiet musings of and on my own. I have been ctaching up on my reading - for pleasure!

I almost started crying one day when I was sitting at a café reading, and realizing that I couldn't remember when the last time I had done that was... So overwhelmed just by finding myself doing one of the things I treasure most in the world. It was kinda scary really.. So I will be taking it very nice and easy this summer before the last battle is at dawn (meaning my dissertation).

These images are of another of my favourite things, branches. Their strength and frailty all at once; the stern boldness as well as the delicate flowers. At this point in my life, I feel very much like such a branch.

A small part of the bigger tree, but the tree wouldn't be without the branches, and yet the branches possess just as much beauty on its own as joined together with the rest of the tree.

{images from my Pinterest and Tumblr}

{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



Christmas Sneak-Peaks

Just a small collection of how I decorate for Christmas this year.

I favour the natural look so I have chosen oranges, pine cones, chesnuts, and spices to lay around the apartment. Love the smell when I enter my front door of star anise and cinnamon. Today, I bought the ingredients to make a chai-mix so I have some weekend projects as well.

Even though I prefer the nature and winter look, I have several colourful ornaments with glitter and gilded decor from my bohemian-gypsy-Indian phase. I usually cluster them all together in a big vase or bowl.

My new additions this year are the candy canes. And the good thing is off course that you can eat them or put them in your coffee or hot chocolate. nom nom nom!



All images are mine. 

Advent Wreaths 2011

Oh oh oh - Ho ho ho, Christmas is now upon us..

Today is the 1st Sunday in Advent, and I have gathered a little collage of inspiration in how to decorate your Advent wreaths anno 2011.

I am finding myself being drawn towards to minimalistic and nature-looking objects, however my own wreath is a black metal one with a little silver and gold and my tall ox-blood coloured candles. I will show you later, maybe next Sunday..

For now it is all about the inspirational talent around us.. Enjoy!

 The hanging version with dryed hydrengeas and silver gems.

An antique French church candle wreath. Gorgeous...

The wooden one with winter berries and shiny candles.

 This is my favourite! Stones with holes that fit the slim candles. So simple, so Scandinavian, so stylish!

Crochet covered jars and cones. If anyone out there is a DIY'er, this would be awesome! Not too Christmas-y either which I always am in favour of. I like everything with a little modest and easy-going thrown in.

The everlasting one: a Stelton Explore 4-lights candle holder with just a little winter nature and white candles. This can be used all year round, just change the decor.

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6}



All you need is salt water...

... sweat, tears, or the sea.

~ Karen Blixen

On many levels this is true, my personal favourit of these is the sea. Around water I feel calm, humble, sincere, and at peace. My dream is to live close to the sea and my favourite time of year by the seaside is in the fall with the rough winds creating gigantic waves. The salty smell and the seaweed instantly calm me, and the drizzle from the foam on my face makes me reload my batteries, and helps me focus on what is truly important to me.

Luckily in Aarhus, we are close to the sea and when the wind is right you can smell the salt.

There are several great spots along the shore, both for bathing and strolling. The spot closest to downtown Aarhus is Tangkrogen (literally The Seaweed Hook) where I spend Tuesday afternoon last week. It was beautiful, strong, sunny, and lonely. I gathered a small collection of blue mussels with mother-of-pearl on the inside.

The wind was rough and a little chilly, but the beautiful hues of the greens and blues along in the sunshine backed it up wonderfully.

I had been in a state of mind where I didn't know anything or what to do, and somehow the sea created a pause for me and my mind was set in a vacuum and thus I could remember something I almost had forgotten - breathing.

 Just for half an hour, I could be something else, something less, something more than I had been prior that day.

I walked home with a serene smile on my face and the salty wind in my hair. The emotions I couldn't convey were acted out before me by the sea and the notion that I was just a small part of it all was quite calming.

Tangkrogen map link {in Danish}

{All images mine}