Sue's purchases and travels

Shop was closed for a couple of days due to snow.  Main roads were okay after one day BUT could not get out of my street nor could I find someone to shovel drive at shop.  But we opened Saturday and were happy top help lots of people find Valentine gifts for their loved ones.  I, despite everything, still love snow and will leave you with more photos from my most recent Swedish trip!

Labels: snow, Sweden, Swedish Antiques, swedish art, swedish gifts

Celebrating the Presidents today at the shop with 17% off one (non sale) item of your choice.  Just thinking about my favorite president.  Probably Lincoln.  The presidents of my lifetime seem so flawed but I wonder if that is simply a reflection of the changes in society.  I wonder if Washington or Lincoln could be elected today?  Did they have too many skeletons in their closets?  Did they lack the wealth needed?  Lincoln probably did but Washington was quite wealthy.  How do we know that there isn't a Lincoln out there who can't get the backing needed to be heard, let alone make it to the top?    Just some thoughts this Presidents' Day.

Labels: election reform, George Washington, klaradal, presidents' day, swedish antiques Abraham Lincoln

If you have yet to buy a Valentine's gift for your SwedeHeart it is not too late to stop in at Klaradal (assuming we are not snowed in)  Shown below are just a few of our heart items.  We've also lots of jewelry, scarves, chocolates and more!

Labels: klaradal swedish anatiques, klaradal swedish gifts, Swede heart, Swedeheart, Valentine's day

There was an article in the local about the ten tackiest Swedish Souvenirs.  I'm pleased to say I do not carry MOST of them.  You can't have a  Swedish gift shop and NOT have an assortment of Dala Horses.  I also offer what was deemed the cheesiest gift:  A Moose shaped cheese slicer!  I guess there is nothing cheesier than cheese.  Good thing they haven't seen the Viking slicer I also offer...might expand the list to eleven items!http://www.thelocal.se/20140115/ten-cheesiest-swedish-souvenirs
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Labels: Swedish Antiques, swedish gifts, tackiest swedish souvenirs

Long before we had Idol there was Eurovision.  Today the first Swedish entrant in the Eurovision contest died.  She was 90 years old and her name was Alice Babs.  The search is starting for Sweden's next entrant for Eurovision.  The purple horse we carry represents the Melodifestival which is the stepping stone to the Eurovision contest.   There is a wide assortment of singers participating but the young woman shown here, Elisa Lindstrom,  in blue dress,  seems closest in spirit to Ms. Babs.  If you want a better idea of the importance of music in Swedish life be sure to visit the Abba museum.  It has a great display that allows you to hear music from each decade.

Labels: Alice Babs, Elisa Lindstrom, Eurovision, klaradal

In this shop this weekend I met a fellow who had participated in the Swedish TV show :The Great Swedish Adventure.(He is on the right with the baseball cap)  I had heard of the show before but someone told me it made Americans look foolish.  Perhaps it did early on but this person said it was a fabulous time.  I think he was there for six weeks.  He likened the show to a blend of The Amazing Race (without the crazy physical things) and who do you think you are.  It is really about finding your roots and experiencing Sweden.  To be considered you cannot have visited Sweden before.  It is also ideal if your relatives came to the US in the late 1800's to early 1900's.  If you can take time off and have the tiniest spirit of adventure you should apply.
You can watch an episode by going to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQj6WFQn1Ss

You can apply to the show by going to
http://www.greatswedishadventure.com/

Good Luck!!!

Labels: finding your swedish roots, klaradal swedish antiques, swedish heritage, The great Swedish Adventure, who do you think you are

Love the new tulip patterns from Ekelund linen...I think they feel more like spring than the earlier versions which had a lot of fall colors.  I like being in the pink! (and we are happy to wrap these linens for you in our flowers of Sweden wrapping paper with a pink or green ribbon!)

Labels: Ekelund, ekelund linens, klaradal swedish antiques, klaradal swedish gifts, tulpan

Ekelund has so many fabulous images this season.  The light bright colors make you believe Spring is on the way.  (I'm talking too much about spring...maybe I need one of those light boxes!)

I've been out of the blog loop for awhile.  I think the travel caught up with me and on my days off (when not going to the shop for a couple of hours) I just collapsed or cooked up a storm.  Still feeling beat but heading into the shop (wearing Red for Women's Heart Health) to start to prepare for our mini reveal tomorrow.

There will be lots of vintage items similar to those shown below (used Google images but my items are quite similar-have lots of the spoons).  Plus lots of new Swedish linens from Ekelund which I will feature tomorrow and Sunday.

Labels: klaradal swedish anatiques, swedish copper, swedish new silver, swedish sifting spoon, swedish silver plate

I know many complain and are sick of snow but I would choose it any day over the endless rain we are having this morning.  Gray on Gray on Gray.   Yesterday at the shop there was a definite increase in sales of bright color scarves.  It is only early February but the mini burst of warm weather and hint of sun this weekend made us all remember what it's like to leave the house without a hat and gloves.  But, if Puxsutawney Phil is right and there is to be six more weeks of winter let there be some of the white stuff too....just to brighten things a bit.  We'll have plenty of rain in April.

Labels: klaradal swedish anatiques, puxsutawney phil, snow

Busy unpacking some of the dala horses I brought home with me.  The LOVE horse is a new one for our shop.  The painted saddle is in the shape of a heart.  Also like the dala designed for the music festival...it is a fun purple color.  Someone once told me that you should have a Dala horse pointing toward your front door to ward off evil.  I have a sweet little red one on the window sill at my house checking out all who approach.  I used to have one on the window near the shop door but think someone stole it!  So much for warding off bad things.

Labels: dala horses, klaradal swedish antiques, love horse, purple dala horse, swedish dala horse, swedish gifts

Home and looking at my photos.  Those I took while on the road around Dalarna are magical!  See for yourself:

Labels: Akersblad hotel, Dalarna, sweden snow, Swedish Antiques, swedish gifts, Tallberg