You can find beautiful, yet simplistic, design in most elements of Danish life from Royal Copenhagen porcelain to functional furniture, textiles, lamps and clothing. For an overview of the history of Danish industrial design, decorative and applied arts we visited the Danish Museum of Art & Design.
(iconic chairs from Denmark's Golden Age of Design)
And we can't forget Lego, one of the oldest plastic toys in the world whose manufacturing began in Denmark.
| |
|
Copenhagen is a wonderful place to visit. When arriving, the first thing you'll notice is everyone rides bikes. Whether sunny, or pouring down rain, it's simply a way of life. Over 50% of all citizens commute by bike each day, and many families don't own cars. You'll see riders in suits, high heels, and often with small children in tow. Streets and town centers are lined with parked bikes and you'll find miles of bike lanes filled with commuters. I found it amazing.
Although, a busy city, Copenhangen has a small town flair and its residents enjoy the outdoors regardless of the weather. You'll see moms and dads pushing the most beautiful European style prams (strollers) completely outfitted for any type of weather. With amazing ease they lift the prams (as well as their bikes) on and off public transportation.
We saw lots of adorable school children out and about. I loved this particular bunch outfitted in an array of wellies and rain jackets as they walked down one of Copenhagen's many cobbled streets.
Outdoor cafes line the streets and are filled with Danes enjoying the long sun-filled days after a dark winter. Many relax with a cappucino & Danish pastry as they soak up the sun and chat with friends.
I'm a people watcher and was struck by the natural beauty of the danes, both old and young. Tall and quite fashionable, most tend to dress in grey and black tones, often accented with a colorful scarf. The Danish are courteous and helpful and, as 80% of Danes speak English, communicating was a breeze. Next up...Copenhagen's fabulous art and design.
| |
|
The process of organizing photos from our trip will take a bit of time. All four of us brought along our own cameras and we managed to take almost 2,000 photos! Needless to say, we have a lot of deleting and editing ahead of us. I did want to share a couple photos of a charming house I fell in love with in Bergen. We took the Fløibanen funicular up to Fløyen (320 m above sea level) and hiked back down. (More on that later.) On the way down we came across this house.
After I took a few photos, the girls noticed the owners were out on the patio enjoying a meal together. The weather was perfect, their view spectacular and I would have loved to join them!
| |
|
I don't often eat pastries while at home, but when in Europe I confess I probably treat myself to one, (or maybe two) a day. Charming bakeries can be found on most corners filled with the most delicious pastries and cookies (especially in Copenhagen and Prague). I enjoy every bite without a single ounce of guilt, knowing the miles of walking we do each day will burn every calorie and then some. Definitely something I will miss...
| |
|
Copenhagen, Denmark
We just returned from our vacation late last night. I have lots to share with you from our visits to Copenhagen, Oslo, Bergen and Prague. For now, I wanted to let you know I have reopened my shops and will be back in the studio late Monday. We are headed to NYC this weekend but I will be responding to emails while we're away. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
| |
|
There are many things my husband has taught us - packing light is one of them. We are about to embark on a 12 day trip to Europe and each of us will be bringing only one "carry on" piece of luggage. No checked baggage. I know for some, the thought of this would make them quiver but it truly makes for happy travelers. We use public transportation while abroad, (quite often involving stairs & lots of walking), so we've come to appreciate the mobility and freedom it allows us. It also eliminates the need to worry over lost or delayed luggage as we fly from city to city.
In Brugge, we climbed three flights of these stairs to reach our beautiful apartment.
~ thrilled we didn't have to lug heavy luggage with us ~
With three girls in the family, the most challenging aspect of limiting ourselves to one carry on is the air transportation rule for liquids. Moisturizers, shampoos, cleansers, etc. can quickly fill the small ziplock bag you're allowed. If necessary, we purchase additional items as we go and it's actually fun to visit local stores in search of what we need. As for make-up, I pack just one each of my favorites (blush, eye shadow lipstick, etc.).
S
Sweet pea always finds space in her bag for a pillow & blanket for the plane ride.
~ we're always jealous ~
Friends ask how we accomplish packing so light and the answer is simply to bring very little with you. We pack nice clothing that can be worn repeatedly and neutrals to mix and match. We also dress in layers for chilly weather avoiding having to pack bulky clothing. If needed, it's easy to handwash something in our hotel or to sometimes visit a local laundromat. (A fun experience when in a foreign country!)
Sweet girl loading laundry in Rome with her Dad.
~ see how much fun she's having?~
The best part of packing light is once your plane lands you're ready to begin your adventure. No waiting at the carousel for heavy pieces of luggage you'll regret later you brought along. It's a challenge I hope you'll try. (Trust me, I wasn't always a light packer. On our honeymoon to Europe, I brought one small suitcase just for my toiletries! My husband's legs literally shook as he carried all of my luggage from place to place. Good thing we were newlyweds.)
| |
|
Our passports have been renewed, flights and accomodations booked and within a few short months we will be off to explore Copenhagen, Oslo, Bergen and Prague! My husband loves planning our vacations, down to the last detail. (One of the countless reasons we appreciate him so!) I have just begun making a list of the places I would like to see along the way. If you have any recommendations for must sees, or favorite places to eat, I'd love for you to share them with me.
| |
|
My husband lived in NYC for twenty years and never visited the Cloisters Museum & Garden, so a stop there was at the top of our list. The Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is devoted to the art and architecture of medieval Europe dating from the ninth to the sixteenth century. Located on a hill overlooking the Hudson River, the museum is comprised of Medieval cloisters imported from France.
There are thousands of works of art on display including sculpture, tapestries, and paintings. And of course, the gardens, doors, and intricately carved pillars are beautiful.
The Gothic Chapel featured large stained glass windows and the sunlight streaming in seemed to spotlight the tombs. I wished I had my Canon camera with me instead of just my iPhone. So many details to capture!
It was a lovely and peaceful place to spend a few hours away from the bustle of the city.
| |
|
We just returned from an extended weekend trip to NYC. It's amazing how much we manage to fit in during our visits. I've never been to Chelsea Market before so we headed there on Saturday morning. If your a foodie, like me, you're going to love it here. Lots of bakeries with artisan breads and delicious sweets, as well as numerous food shops offering specialty cheeses, nuts, honey, olive oil, jams and more!
Also located in Chelsea Market is Bowery Kitchen supplies. The girls and I were in heaven as we roamed the aisles. There were quite a number of larger items I wanted to purchase, but didn't want to take the time to cart it back to the hotel. Next trip, I'll plan for it. My iPhone came in handy to shoot items for my wish list or things that inspired me.
Another fun thing about Chesea Market is the opportunity to catch some behind the scenes action at some of the bakeries. They actually give tours if you'd like to sign up for one. I would love to hang out there all day and learn some of their secrets.
| |
|
Sweet girl is now settled in NYC. She is living on the 20th floor and has amazing views of the city from every room. I took the next few pictures from her bedroom window looking out onto the Hudson River.
This is looking down on Central Park, where she went for a run the first morning after her arrival.
She has a spacious dining and living area with a full kitchen. There are a row of large windows across the dining area and the above photo is the view from those windows. My husband and I didn't get to stay late enough to see the views at night, but I'm sure they are spectacular.
The Conde Nast Building
Sweet girl is great at navigating the subway system on her own, but to make me feel better we did a practice run to the Conde Nast building where she'll be interning. We walked right up from the subway stop in Times Square and there was the building right in front of us. (It's located next to "One Times Square" where the New Year's Eve ball descends each year.) It was at that moment, with the sight of the people, activity and sounds of Times Square, it really sunk in what an incredible opportunity this is for her. She'll be keeping a daily journal, with photos, all summer and I can't wait to read about her adventures.
| |
|
This weekend, we visited Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA. Established in 1847, it was designed in a rural garden style and given the name "Hollywood" from the many holly trees on the property. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it's the final resting place of two Presidents (James Monroe & John Tyler), as well as Jefferson Davis and thousands of Confederate soldiers. Its rolling hills and winding paths overlook the James River and you can walk through the beautiful grounds and ponder history.
| |
|
I hope you all enjoyed a lovely Easter weekend. We just returned from a weekend away to visit our girls at college and deliver a few Easter treats. First stop was the College of William and Mary.
Founded in 1693, it's the second-oldest university in the United States. The campus is beautiful and it was a perfect weekend to explore.
This is Crim Dell bridge on campus. Urban legend has it that if two lovers cross the bridge together and kiss at the crest of it, they will be together forever. However, if that couple separates at any point thereafter, the lady must throw her ex-lover off of the bridge and into the water to break the curse of being single forever.
Another campus tradition is to swim the Crim Dell pond prior to graduation. We came across a few snapping turtles enjoying a swim. (Can you spot this one?) Our daughter has taken a swim in the pond, but has a few more years to attempt the last two legendary tasks. (Jumping the wall of the Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg after hours and streaking through the sunken garden on campus). These three events make up the W&M Triathlon.
Spring is a great time to visit, as the tulips, dogwoods and wisteria are in full bloom.
The campus has cozy wooded areas and beautiful Georgian and Anglo-Dutch architecture. This is Barrett Hall, our daughter's dorm. From the campus, we headed across the street to Colonial Williamsburg. Next time, I'll share a few pictures of the gardens there which are always inspiring.
| |
|
I appreciate all things creative and am inspired by the smallest of details. Here is where I love to share projects, designs and favorite things. ~ (more)
