Que sera, Sera?

It was my birthday on Friday, and my friend Maggie presented me with this lovely jug and creamer from Stavangerflint. The pattern is called Sera and is by Inger Waage. I had the serving dish from before, so now this makes a great little trio.

At yesterday’s fleamarket I did actually find a complete coffee set in this pattern, but I have decided I just haven't got room for any more... Besides, I often like mixing plain cups with vintage items as I think a full set in one pattern can sometimes be too busy and you don't notice how great the pattern actually is. What do you think?

I did also have this one little Sera egg cup from before. I it is my favorite object in this pattern. It's got to do with the simplicity of the decoration plus the fat border on the brim. I do like that detail.

Yesterday’s catch

The fleamarkets are back on again and here is what I scored yesterday: Lots of Staffordshire mugs, the white ones even came with plates to match. Note the lovely steel tray with wooden handles that they are sitting on - it’s stamped Cultura Stainless AB Silver & Stål Sweden.

I remember my mum having a set of the brown mugs when I grew up. I have come across a couple of them in various colour combos before but never so many in mint condition. Not yet decided if they’re going into my Etsy shop or not... Any takers?

I'm very pleased with these new additions to my random plates and saucers collection. The top one is by Stavangerflint. I don't have the name for the pattern or the designer. If you know, please share! The bottom one is Swedish, from Rörstrand and is called Drapé.

Fleamarket finale

Oh, what a thrill today has been! Two local fleamarkets in one trip and here is what I found...

I'll zoom in on some of it for you:

Gustavsberg melamine cups and Emsa melamine plates in mint condition.

Teak salt and pepper shakers shaped as vikings. Another bargain that I initally thought I'd put on Etsy but changed my mind as soon as I unpacked them at home. Sorry guys!

Small vase from Strehla Keramik, Germany.

Big, heavy candleholder for hanging on the wall. Possibly the work of Konrad Galaaen.

Isn't she sweet? I think it was her glasses that did it for me. I might not have brought her home if it wasn't for those specs :-) It's a litho titled 'Selvportret' (Self portrait) and signed K. Axels. Danish, I presume. The jam jar is from Arabia, Finland, and the vase is from Germany.

I found a whole lot of plates, cups, serving platters and sugerbowls in this pattern (Safran)... I just couldn't get it all (sigh) and was going to settle for one item. I contemplated a lidded sugerbowl. Then there was this (above) - a huge serving bowl in exactly the same design as the sugarbowl, only forty times bigger. (OK - slight exaggeration, but it is BIG.) I thought I'd be as bold as the dish and went for it. The price? NOK 75. That's a bargain in my book.

Finally, some 50's halos for Christmas tree lights. Perfect for a kitschy winter holiday. Not an obvious choice when it's summer at it's best with hot, sunny weather like today.

I was thrilled putting all these items in the car and drive home through the beautiful countryside, sun roof open and some favorite tunes on the stereo. The last fleamarket of the season was a great finale.

Blog break over

After a two month absence my old blogging nerve has started to twitch again. It's great to be back. Here is some of what I've been up to while not blogging:

...drinking lots of coffee from my favorite vintage mug of the moment - a Figgjoflint design,

bought this lovely tea towel at Etsy,

thrifted another huge Bitossi lamp at Fretex (the Salvation Army shop) last week, and today found a shade for it,

been thinking I need to get some Biri natural wallpaper on a wall in the dining area,

purchased three Marcel Breuer 'Cesca' chairs with WHITE wooden frames (no armrests) for the mere sum of $40. Now I just need a place to put them,

made a costume for my son's kindergarten carnival party. Theme: Fairytale forest. The end result includes Ikea hacking, velcro and bandages.

I purchased an enormous (soup?) cup online. Later on I also found a lid in the same design and hoped that it would fit. It didn't.

And today, my latest thrift gem: a large tea cup from Arabia of Finland.
I've wasted hours online trying to find out what it's called, but I think I need YOUR help, my dear clued up readers. All similar items on ebay are listed as 'Valencia', but I don't think that's the correct name. (As far as the colour go and to some extend also the pattern, I think it is close but no cigar.) Can anyone help clear up this conundrum for me?

So there you have it. I hope to be back with some more (shorter) posts soon.

Ikea 2011 catalog

The new Ikea catalog release is an interior design highlight of the year. Here are some of the few pictures that caught my eye so far.

It could look like Ikea is forecasting a more cabin/countryside-ish trend.

An all white backdrop for a colorful children's room. I particularly like the little 'Skojig' table lamp (far left).

...which looks even better as a pendant lamp:

This last bit is great news for me – I've struggeling to find some suitable cupboards (not too deep and with glass doors) for my vintage cup collection.
Voila!:

New old bits and bobs

Was I pleased when I found these two the other day. Yes, I was. The large vase is most likely a Bitossi, the smaller one is by John Anderson for Höganäs. Dare I say how much I paid for them..? The equivalent of $10. Yup :-)

On a more kitschy note (but not any less lovely), I also got these items: ice bucket of unknow make, mug by Staffordshire Potteries and a small creamer by Figgjo Flint with a pattern called Safran. Great mustardy 60s/70s colour.

Conran cups and London tray

I have posted these cups and saucers before, but they deserve another post. I never tire of this pattern and I was just thinking I should try harder to collect more pieces... (As if I have the space for it). It's Nature Study, Stylecraft by Midwinter, Staffordshire and the designer is Terence Conran. I think it's dating back to 1955.

The London tray in the background is designed by Maria Holmer Dahlgren for Metagram Art. I purchased it from the museum shop at Tate Modern. (I wanted to buy the Stockholm tray when I was there last summer, but I think this one is more for me, as I have a connection to London.) It is a wonderful and clever design, managing to look timeless.