Sue's purchases and travels

Drove to Philadelphia today and stopped at the American Swedish Historical Museum on Patti-
son Ave.  They have an exhibit, on loan from Svensk Tenn, of Josef Frank's furniture and fabrics.  It's not a huge display but touches on all of his main designs and adds some interesting information about his personal life.  The exhibit continues through February 23 and is open Tuesday thru Friday from 10-4 and Saturday and Sunday 12-4.  The museum is closed Mondays.  If you have never visited this treasure of a museum I would urge you to do so.  It is housed in a wonderful historic building just off of broad street. There are various rooms, plus special exhibitis,  a coffee shop and gift shop.  If you are traveling on 95 through Philadelphia it is easy to pop in to enjoy a bit of Swedish AND American history! (Note you need to ring bell to enter...)

Happy New Year!

http://www.americanswedish.org

Labels: American Swedish Historical Museum, Josef Frank, Pattison aven, Philadelphia Swedish museum

Booked my flight to Stockholm today!  Will spend 2 weeks shopping for Klaradal.  Plan to attend Formex...Stockholm's Gift show.  This photo shows the booth of Gunnila Anwall.  She offers trays and cards featuring her  fabulous watercolor designs.  Call me crazy...I love Stockholm in January!  Actually, I recently heard our new ambassador speak at a Lucia celebration held at the house of Sweden.  He talked about the quiet splendor of Stockholm in January and I could not have agreed more.  It is magical! Cold....but magical!

Labels: Gunilla Anwall, klaradal gifts, klaradal swedish antiques, klaradal swedish gifts, stockholm snow, stockholm winter

This year we closed the shop on Christmas Eve and traveled to Lancaster county to visit with my sister Pat and to have dinner at the historic Accomac Inn.  We had last been there more than ten years ago to celebrate our Dad's 80th birthday.  The temperatures were frigid (20 degrees) and the wind blowing off of the Susquehanna river made the walk to the entrance seem endless.  The entry is in the middle of a long screened in porch which they had decorated with numerous real trees...still the wind was whipping!  Once inside we immediately warmed up thanks to the crackling fireplaces and general warm interior.  I was a bit disappointed in the holiday decorations which were npot true to colonial times (Glass jars filled with bright holiday balls instead of fresh greens :(     ...) But still loved being in this historic inn.  It is true what they say...you can't go back again.  I remember this as being the ultimate dining experience which it was not.  Perhaps I have grown a bit in my experiences and I fear they have slipped but would still recommend this lovely restaurant if for no other reason than the fabulous building in which it operates.  

Labels: accomac inn, klaradal swedish antiques, klaradal swedish gifts, Lancaster PA, york pa

The boiler at Klaradal refused to kick in yesterday.  Temperatures INDOORS plummeted to 54 degrees.  We had just received a shipment of the Nordic stripe socks shown here and I put on a pair to ward off the chill.  They really helped!  The good news is the repair men were able to get the heater going.  The bad news is they said I needed a new boiler.....just what a small business owner wants to hear. Oh well....at least we have heat to finish out the year and I don't have to resort to putting the nordic socks on my hands!

Labels: klaradal swedish gifts, nordic gifts, nordic socks, nordic stripe socks, Swedish Antiques

The upper class of Great Britain, who NEEDED the servants to work on Christmas day (Who will put our paper rubbish in the bin?) traditionally would give them December 26 as a day off AND would present them with a gift aka a box.  Thus boxing day.  For me, traditionally it has been a major shopping day-usually to buy 1/2 price gift wrap.  That is until I realized one day that I had enough gift wrap to cover my entire house and that of my family!  For the last 10 years I have been at Klaradal on December 26 watching customers enjoy the discounts as I once did.  Happy Boxing Day!  If you read this blog and shop my webstore please know that Ekelund Holiday linens are 25% off.  You will need to e-mail us a list of what you would like. We will write back with what is available and your final total.  I think things will sell out quickly!

Labels: boxing day, ekelund linens sale, klaradal sale, klaradal swedish gifts

Klaradal had a nice little mention in the Washington Post Sunday newspaper.  There was an article on expats and we were mentioned as a good source for Swedish cooking items and candies.  We are sooooo much more than that but appreciative of this mention in the post!  Here is the link.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/an-expat-washington-christmas-antelope-and-ptarmigan-can-be-tough-to-find/2013/12/21/e29bf9f8-667a-11e3-a0b9-249bbb34602c_story.html

Labels: expats holidays, klaradal swedish antiques, klaradal swedish gifts, Lucia procession, Swedish Christmas gifts, Washington Post

Wow...three days to Christmas and just 2 more shopping days at Klaradal.  Remember to take a moment...even though you feel as if you haven't one to spare...and just relax. Give yourself time for a cup of tea and a Christmas cookie in front of the tree or a fire.  It is so easy to run yourself down during the holidays.  Enjoy the season....everything doesn't have to be done.  I made the decision to NOT unpack 3 bins of decorations.  Our holidays will still be happy!  Hope yours is too!

Labels: klaradal swedish antiques, klaradal swedish gifts, Swedish Christmas gifts, swedish foods

The DC area is expecting record warm temperatures this weekend....darn it!  All of our snow has melted.  It's too hot for Glogg.  I just went back to the photos of when Peter and I visited Rattvik one January.  Every inch of our charming hotel was decorated for Christmas and every bit of ground was snowy white.  I remember our drive there.  Neither Peter nor I speak Swedish and it normally isn't a problem....unless the radio is warning of a blizzard and you don't know what they're saying.  The snow started about an hour out of Stockholm and  quicly reached blizzard proportions.  Luckily our rental volvo had studded snow tires so we were able to finish our trip...in 5 rather than normal 3 hours.  I remember being so happy to reach the hotel, have a hot cup of glogg, and sit by the fire.  I hope YOU have a white Christmas!

Labels: god jul, klaradal, rattvik, Swedish Christmas gifts, swedish gifts

I spent some time yesterday with a friend who is ill.  I was thinking, before I went over, about how so many of my Mom's friends did NOT visit her when she developed dementia. Her sister came weekly from Philadelphia but people down the street never seemed to find the time.   I also remember another friend sharing that when her mother was in the hospital dying that no one came.  Their excuses were that they didn't like hospitals or wanted to remember the person the way they were.  I was with my mother when she died. I don't remember the woman on her deathbed  I remember the vivacious beautiful woman shown here.  I did, however, love her through every stage of her life.  If you have an ill friend...buck up....go visit-make her laugh...show her you care.

Labels: do unto others, holiday gifts, klaradal swedish antiques, show you care, visit ill friends

Today I am off and plan to make the dough for gingerbread cookies.  The shop keeps me so busy these days that I told my husband and son to each pick a favorite cookie they wanted me to bake.  My son picked Chocolate Chip (a little boring but, hey, who doesn't love chocolate and nuts) and my husband picked Piparkoogid which is the Estonian word for gingerbread cookies.  (Peter's parents were both born in Estonia but met and married  in Philadelphia)  This cookie also plays a big role in Swedish Jul celebrations.  Tradition has it that on Christmas eve you should place one cookie in the palm of your hand, make a wish, and then with finger of opposite hand press down on center of cookie to break it.  If it breaks into 3 pieces your wish will come true...if it doesn't I say you should keep trying (and eating the results) until it does.  I wish you calm and happy days leading to Christmas.  If you don't feel like baking Klaradal sells Lar's Own ginger cookies...as close to homemade as you can get without pulling from your own oven!  We have boxes or a tin featuring a gorgeous Stockholm skyline.

Labels: ginger snaps, holiday shop, klaradal, Lar's Own ginger snaps, marabou, maryland holiday shop, Pepparkakor, Piparkoogid, swedish candy, swedish foods, swedish gifts

A customer, with teenage children, first told me about this Video.  We watched it together.  It was so weird and yet so mesmerizing and the refrain downright addictive. Some people still haven't heard of it...here is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jofNR_WkoCE

The Norwegian duo that does this is called Ylvis.  They recently came out with a book (which we stock) and said they created the book to make money.  You've got to love their honesty!  The book is a big seller at our shop-I hope I can get more!  What DOES the fox say?

Labels: jul gifts, klaradal swedish gifts, swedish books, swedish gifts, what does the fox say, ylvis

Here is my assembled Kransekake.  Will serve it today at the 10th anniversary and holiday open house at Klaradal.  mmmmmm God Jul!

Labels: klaradal swedish antiques, Kranskake, Swedish Christmas gifts, swedish gifts, Swedish holiday shop

 I love returning to Lancaster PA and my favorite  small shops.  If you head to Lancaster you have to check out Hammond's Pretzels.  No big factory here...just a small row home with a back building where a small group of workers hand twist pretzels for baking.  I always buy the "brokers"...those pretzels that didn't make it off the conveyer belt whole.  Best thing of all?  The pretzels, if you go on a weekday, are often warm.  What follows salty?  Sweet.  Miesses is a Lancaster Chocolate INSTITUTION that's been around since the 1800's.  They are in a new location now, on Water Street, but still have the same fabulous locally made chocolates.  Bonus...they are located next to a craft shop that features the work of disabled adults.  A great day, out with my sister, shopping local.  Pledge to shop local in your hometown..  If it happens to be in the DC area come see us!

Labels: Hammonds Pretzels, Holiday shops, Lancaster PA, Miesses, Olney Maryland, shop local, shop small, swedish gifts, Swedish linens

 Made a Kransekake this morning.  To the left are the unbaked rings and to the right those that are baked.  The image below is of a perfect Kransekake....alas that will not be mine.  That is why...when I make this Norwegian treat two times a year I become Kranecranky!  I will assemble the rings this weekend for Klaradal's tenth anniversary celebration.  I'll take a photo and we will compare mine with the perfect one below.  To quote Bloody Mary (the south Pacific character not the drink!)  You've got to have a dream!

I love the Christmas Carol, The Holly and the Ivy.

The holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown,

Of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown.

Refrain:

Oh, the rising of the sun and the running of the deer,

The playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir.

I guess that is why, years ago, when I was aware that Portmerion had a holiday china pattern of that name it became a frequent entry on my Christmas List.  Now we have enough to serve the whole extended family on Christmas Eve.

And today there is enough snow that I opted not to open the shop.  I am, instead, home finishing my Christmas decorations and switching out my Portmerion Botanical plates for the Holly and the Ivy.  There is not running of the deer in our yard...just a gently falling snow and occasional appearance of Tillie, our neighbors sweet Cocker Spaniel!

Labels: best gift shop 2013, holiday gifts, holly and the ivy, klaradal, klaradal swedish gifts, maryland gifts

Yesterday the bad roads prompted us to close the shop three hours early.  I used the time at home to decorate our Christmas trees.  We have two...down from the five I used to have prior to owning the shop.  We decorated 18 trees at the shop this year so......two is plenty at home.  We played my favorite Swedish Christmas CD: En Riktig Svensk Jul . Peter threatened to dance around the tree which would be a little difficult given that we have both of them up against windows. This morning the trees outside were coated in ice crystals-I turned on the tree, started the holiday music and enjoyed the view.

Labels: Christmas trees, god jul, klaradal swedish antiques, Swedish Christmas gifts, Swedish holiday shop

Tomorrow we head to the House of Sweden in the DC neighborhood of Georgetown.  The building is a mostly glass with perfect views of the Potomac River.  This Jul Bazaar is a chance for everyone to experience what a Swedish Christmas is about.  There is a cafe with great sandwiches made by the ladies of SWEA, tons of baked goods (I will get my fix of Cardamom) Swedish Gifts and Antiques (We have three tables) and a Lucia Procession.  If you are in the area stop by....Saturday December 7, 2013 from 11-5.  You can also enjoy fun holiday shopping in Georgetown.

Labels: Georgetown, holiday gifts, holiday shop, House of Sweden, Jul Bazaar, klaradal swedish gifts, Lucia procession, SWEA

In my travels as I search the various "loppis" and 'Antik" shops of Sweden I often come across Christmas tree skirts.  They are usually burlap and most always without an opening.  I couldn't ,figure this out until I saw one of our cousin's Christmas trees when I visited Sweden one December. Their "stands" were like those you see in old fashioned books-two crossed pieces of wood.  Thus..no need for an opening because there is no water well to hide...just the bare tree.
This year I was thrilled to discover a vendor that offered burlap Christmas tree skirts similar to the vintage Swedish ones I find but with an opening.  We stock them in plain burlap as well as red polka dot or a brown herringbone.  I've put one aside for my family room tree...elegantly casual!

Labels: burlap tree skirt, Christmas tree skirts, holiday shop, klaradal swedish gifts, Swedish holiday shop, Tree skirts

Labels: christmas shop maryland, holiday shop, klaradal, Swedish Antiques, Swedish Christmas trees, trees stolen

Treated myself to a slice of Almond Kringle this morning.  We sell them at the shop in three flavors:  Almond, Raspberry, and Apple.  They arrive frozen and we keep them in the freezer at the shop so they are always fresh. I buy one for the house for special occasion...could eat it every day but then I wouldn't fit through the door!  Our Kringles come from Racine Wisconsin and they claim that the Kringle is the official pastry of Wisconsin.  Do other states have official pastries?  These Kringles are yummy and a lot easier than making one yourself.  My husband is first generation Estonian American and tradition requires a birthday Kringle: A large pretzel shaped pastry filled with almond paste, cardamom and gold raisins.  It is so fabulous and my sister in law has taken over the job of baking them now that my mother in law, who is 96, is no longer up to the job.  I have pictured the kringles we sell ($8.95) and one made by Tina....an all day effort.  

Labels: almond kringle, cardamom, estonian american, Estonian Food, holiday gifts, holiday shop, Holiday shop Maryland, klaradal, klaradal swedish gifts, kringle, racine kringle