{Happy Birthday to me!}

Or, should I say "Happy Cinnamon"!?

Yes, you read correctly, I am referring to the lovely spice we use in bulks at Christmas. Reason? Apparently, when you turn 25 (which I am - surprice!) you get cinnamon if you are not married (which I am not). And I have no idea why. In addition, it appears to be a fairly recent tradition in East Jutland because not all of Denmark knows about this tradition. I don't even recall my siblings getting cinnamon when they turned 25 (they are 11, 12, and 13 years older than me).

For many many years (since the 1500s), it has been a tradition throughout Denmark to mark the 30th birthday with pepper, because the Danish words for spinster and bachelor contain the word pepper in them: pebermø (literally: pepper maiden) and pebersvend (pepper apprentice).

And if you google the two Danish words you see some examples of what might happen to you if you have very evil friends and family!

God, I hope I am married before 30! Or perhaps counting on my friends and family will be as low-key as with the cinnamon.

I just got a nice bunch of cinnamon buns and my presents had sticks of cinnamon wrapped with the ribbons.

So in honour of myself and the fact that I have existed for 25 years, I give you various pictures of flags and cinnamon.

Enjoy!

Our beautiful flag Dannebrog.

Cinnamon

Mouth-watering no?

These look a lot like the ones I got at my birthday-party from my Aunt.

Okay, just let me die happily in cinnamon heaven now!

{all images via Pinterest}

{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}



Royal Copenhagen 2012

Besides books and paper dolls, Royal Copenhagen was my first love, and since I just found the new catalogue I will show you their wonderful styling of their iconic pieces. I am always excited about great Danish design, and to think this company dates back to 1775 and still going strong is nectar for my mind - and eyes..

 I lust for a pantry like this! And I really like the personal ways of styling and choosing among the variety of the designs they offer.

Personally, I go with the blue paint but the Black Mega Fluted is also very cool and contemporary, which is the key to succes for such an old company as Royal Copenhagen. They dared to bring the old up-to-date - and scored big time!

 Please invite me to dinners like these!! I beg on my humble knees...

Perfection *misty eyes*

As Danish as it gets; Royal Copenhagen and strawberries with cream and sugar. I am already longing for summer when looking at this.

There was also another new addition to the pretty Royal Copenhagen-family, but I will save that for another day and give it a post of its own. It is that adorable in my eyes.

However, do not think that they would do a catalogue without Flora Danica, Zodiacs, or the pretty hygendra vases, I just chose the prettiest styled pictures. So by all means, grap a copy if you can and drool over the prettiness with pretty on top.

{All scans mine from the 2012 catalogue by Royal Copenhagen}



{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. 

Rustic Winter & Christmas Decor

First of all, a happy first of December. Are you in the spirits yet or does it usually wait to hit you on the 23rd.? I am not yet feeling the excitement but I do love the decor on the various blogs and in the magazines. Is it just me, or does people almost never decorate like this in real life?

I wish they did because Johanne Bildsøe's house is truly stunning when decorated for Christmas. That said, she is a professional decorater and has an interior shop on Østerbro in Copenhagen, Détails91. Nevertheless, I love her incorporation of the rustic nature and vintage pieces. Very basic and very timeless. I love when people decorate for the winter like they do for spring and summer, taking in flowers and leaves, in stead it is all specifically Christmas. I tire easily with Christmas but I always love the crisp feel and air around winter. And these photos by Kristian Septimus Krogh really do the decor and the theme justice.

My own Christmas decor is too emotional, so many memories but not very cohesive in terms or colour or style. One year, I favour bohemian-Indian gold tassles with pink and purple, the next it is all wrought iron.. I know I will never be like the great Karen Blixen who only decorated in white and silver (but think of the beauty of it!!! Just like snow..) but most of the pieces has a story to tell, and I guess that's the best thing.

 Eucalyptus branches with vintage iron roses.

I almost shrieked when I saw the door wreath. So stylish, and I absolutely adore the accent of the anemone. One of my favourite flowers..

And a nice way to use your candle holders for the Christmas tree before you get the tree.

 Again, a nice re-decorating of pieces you always have around. In stead of perhaps an exotic flower you showcase a branch with some ornaments. Oh, and what a great idea using an old flower box with oasis and put branches and flowers in it for a table centerpiece.

An old chair, a vintage lantern, antlers, and a small wreath. Simple greige decor at its best.

Actually, this is more of winter decor than Christmas decor. The only really Christmas-y is off course the tree, and yet this is also more rustic and simple than more traditional ones. Very sprase amount of ornaments, and very small too.

Once again, a flower box and branches. I really like this idea..

Decorate your chandelier with various sized ornaments making it look like a cloud with silver raindrops. Beautiful!

Antlers in a mason jar and a close-up on the table centerpiece.

So what do you think, too sparse, too chilly, or just right?

{from Danish interior magazine Bo Bedre}