Tomoko Suzuki

I wish I could illustrate when I see work such as this, by Tomoko Suzuki (via designworklife).

Swedish Eye Candy

I like looking at wallpaper. I've never lived in a house with wallpaper, but there is a LOT of it in Sweden and it's REALLY COOL. I think it's because I like patterns. Bright patterns. Some people think they're too loud but I like them screaming :) I would spend all day in interior stores in Sweden because (a) they fill me with happiness and (b) it's -18 outside.

On my travels I've come across a few illustrators that caught my eye. The latest one is Ingela P Arrhenius. I can barely afford anything she's created but I did manage a small notebook, because I have hardly any notebooks and I needed a new one *cough cough*. Here it is, isn't it just so... Swedish? Snyggt!

Some of Ingela's work:

Another place that I could spend all day in is Svenskt Tenn. I wasn't prepared to sign over my first-born there either, but I did employ my "browse-diamonds-at-Tiffany's-and-buy-a-keyring" technique, resulting in a very flashy gift bag. I think the lady on the bus thought I was pretty fancy.

Sveskt Tenn is where you can indulge your Josef Frank fantasies. Wallpaper, fabric, lamps, foot stools and tea trays in all the patterns you could want. Staying with my friend Rebecca at her parent's house didn't help me much - her mother has great taste. Thank goodness she reminded me that I needed an Elephant lamp and a Manhattan map stool, I'd forgotten all about them!

This is my last day in Sweden, and I depart with a heavy heart and a very light purse. I spent the last 2.5 weeks having an absolute ball, thanks to my favourite Swedish people. As we said, it's not goodbye, just See You Soon!!

Butterflies and Hedgehogs

It must be all the free time I have these days, but I keep finding pretty things and collecting them. Today I filled my handbag with conkers - they were all over the ground near the museum we visited on an excursion, and now I don't know what to do with them. We don't have them in Australia (do we?) so I was just consumed with getting as many home as possible.

I think when you're not surrounded by everyone you know, when you don't have to go to work everyday or worry about the stresses of real-life, you starting finding joy in the little things. These days, simple colours make me really happy! I discovered Belgian illustrator Vincent Mathy via designworklife and all of a sudden I want to go out and buy his new book, Jour papillon ou jour hérisson? Then I want to keep it forever and read it to my children.

I also armed myself with 4 postcards from the museum - vintage posters advertising the Normandy region. At this rate, I'll be arriving home in a shipping container surrounded by conkers and paper goods. It's probably a nicer way to travel anyway!